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The Rediff Interview/ Omar Abdullah

'The Hurriyat has no control over violence'

Omar Abdullah, minister of state for commerce, is among the youngest ministers in A B Vajpayee's government.

"I am only seven months old in this ministry and know more about Kashmir politics than those in my ministry," he told a crowd at a function organised by FICCI in Bombay last week.

Buffeted for time, he took out 15 minutes to speak to Syed Firdaus Ashraf, on business opportunities in his state as well as holding talks with the Hurriyat.

The government has released Hurriyat leaders. How do you think it will help the peace process in Kashmir?

The governments of India and Jammu and Kashmir are of the opinion that they will be able to convey the message to rest of the world, that the problem relating to Kashmir is an internal problem. We don't require any third party intervention to solve this problem. But, I believe that the Hurriyat does not have any control over violence and militancy. To that extent, I don't know how far it will help in reducing militancy in the Valley. But any move to resolve the problem within the constitutional framework in J&K is welcome.

Do you think the strike called by Hurriyat leaders after their release was a good gesture?

Don't forget that the Hurriyat still have to play to a domestic audience. I mean, how will the Hurriyat be able to justify the number of people who have lost their lives in the struggle? And, I think the only people who have benefited from the struggle is the Hurriyat. I think they are just playing to their audience. They have to make certain noises. They realised that the ultimate solution is to come and talk sooner or later.

But don't you think the Hurriyat is popular in Kashmir?

There is no denying that there are certain leaders in the Hurriyat who are popular. But where that popularity stems from, needs to be looked at. There are only one or two leaders in the Hurriyat who can command an audience. There is Omar Farooq. That is his legacy and he commands respect. Besides him, hardly any leader has mass support.

The Panun Kashmir is demanding that Kashmir should be bifurcated on religious lines.

It is not the Panun Kashmir but also the RSS. And, I believe it is a very dangerous move. The National Conference can never support this.

Are you taking any steps to prevent such a measure since you are part of the government?

No, this is not the government's view. The RSS has its views and I am sure the chief minister will take this into account and talk to the central leaders.

You represent the youth of Kashmir. Why are the youth getting lured by guns rather being involved in some constructive activities?

What opportunities have been given to the young people to work? Where is the constructive process? One area was tourism, which has been destroyed by militancy. For a long time, we have been crying for industries and jobs. From independence, when the central government was trying to set up large public undertakings and public sector corporations. Rs 180 billion has been spent on the public sector, of which only Rs 180 million has come to J&K, that is 0.1 per cent.

So what kind of opportunity are you making available to the youth? Obviously, then, there is resentment. You have graduates coming out of colleges and they don't have employment opportunity. And our neighbours across the border are taking advantage of this situation.

But what is the National Conference government doing about it?

We have been requesting the central government to provide some kind of package. Specific package like the one for the north-east. The discussion over that has reached a very advanced stage. So, we hope to attract investments for food processing, handicrafts. As a minister of commerce, I have sanctioned a technology park, and we hope to create a number of jobs in the I-T sector. And, we are inviting large private sector investments because we have no hopes of deploying public sector investment.

But are private entrepreneurs ready to invest in J&K?

Well, local investors will come. I don't expect any MNCs or any large Indian company to come to Kashmir. The companies which came there unfortunately came for making more profit under the certain provisions of the law. And when the laws were changed, they left. So really, we are attracting local entrepreneurs there.

How many industries have been set up in your state in the last five years?

A number of industries have been set up, but the exact figures you will have to get from the state government. There are 100 per cent export units there. The most recent one was a Rs 35 crore apple juice concentrate plant, exporting to Germany. So, investment is coming in.

There are rumours that the central government will dissolve the state assembly and call for fresh elections in order for the Hurriyat to contest?

Elections are due in two and a half years. And the chief minister has gone on record stating that if the Hurriyat wants to contest the elections, they are free to do so. Let the Hurriyat contest, I can assure you that the very next day we will dissolve the assembly and Farooq Abdullah will call for fresh elections.

The militants have suddenly turned aggressive and have taken to attacking army bases.

You see, this is Pakistan's strategy. They have been humiliated so badly in Kargil and they know that in case of a direct conflict they will be humiliated again. So, it is their way of exacting revenge. But our army is well trained and can deal with the problems as they arise.

Recently, when a photographer took a photograph of your playing golf his camera was taken away...

(Interrupts) This is blown out of proportion. I'll tell you what happened. My father has a hobby of playing golf and he plays whenever he is extremely worked up. He is one of the most highly protected persons in the country. And, there was obviously a slip in security as the photographer was able to break three or four cordons and got close enough. He had a camera, he could have a gun instead. Because of that, action was taken against him by the security forces.

Do you think it is all right for a CM to play golf when his state is in a bad state?

(Again interrupts) Look, you tell me, don't you relax? You do, don't you? He is a human being, not a machine. If that is his way of relaxing once in a while, it is his right, isn't it?

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