It may not be any wild guess that the unsatisfactory governance of this State is fast slipping out of the weaker grip of chief minister. Omar Abdullah like melting snow dripping out from loose fingers.
       The present State government has almost proved a disappointment on many fronts. That’s why it meets with violent demonstrations which are held without any break day in and day out all over the Valley of Kashmir as well as in Jammu region. And, common Kashmiri is caught between the devil and the deep sea.
       The past few months have witnessed blood of young students and teenaged boys being shed on roads, in market places and in streets with impunity when a stone or a brick bat is met with a fatal bullet from the troopers and the police.
The tall claims of zero tolerance and prompt investigation into these gory happenings have proved shallow and none of the culprits involved in any inhuman action has been brought to book or punished in accordance with the law of the land which probably, does not apply to Kashmir.
       One should not raise any objection to the normal activities of chief minister which he is discharging as the head of the government, but ironically, some times it smacks of his indifference to suffering people and their agonised life. On one hand, entire Kashmir was mourning the brutal killing of Muhamamd Tufail Mattoo with bleeding hearts but on the other, Omar Abdullah chose to inaugurate Sindhu Darshan festival in Leh, much to the distasteful feeling of a common Kashmiri. He could have conveniently postponed the extravaganza for a couple of days.
       Also, there has been very ignorable development in the State under present NC rule despite lavish funding from the Centre. It was in this context that during his recent visit to Srinagar, the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh did not throw any praises on Omar Abdullah, as had been reported in media through a planted story, but he openly expressed his displeasure over the bad condition of roads, erratic supply of electricity and other basic facilities essentially to be provided to the people. He therefore announced an additional grant of four billion rupees to the State for meeting these requirements, but one may be at loss to understand, as to what extent this huge sum of money shall be spent properly and under an impartial surveillance for any Central body?
       Right from Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah down to Omar Abdullah, these dynastic rulers of the State have time and again talked of routing rampant corruption in administration and other institutions. Has any one of them succeeded in this? We say categorically, no. If the government cannot prove active and
effective against eradication of the menace of corruption then it is advisable to legalise it once and for all.
       When a young Omar Abdullah got off to his start as the chief minister, people in general began pinning their hopes that this cultured and smart CM shall bring about, if not all, but some significant changes in the strife ridden atmosphere across Kashmir Valley which has devoured scores of human lives till date.
       But, right under his nose, the armed forces are continuing with their killing spree and of late, budding students are mainly targeted without any human instinct preventing them from this gross violation of civil rights. The result is before the eyes of one and all that Kashmir is on boil with very brief intervals and if the Kashmiri youth got emotionally and collectively involved in this rebellious reaction, the government can easily see the writing on the wall. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s downfall was mainly due to the agitation launched against him by the Pakistani youth after his rigged elections and he met his disgraceful political end.
       The need of the alarming hour is that for a good governance, the CM and his sincere confidents and advisers should have an introspection of their successes and failures and take to a systematic strategy to resolve the basic problems faced by the people for a number of years now. They include unemployment, making of bad roads, uninterrupted supply of electric power and treating the angry youth not with the stroke of a bullet but with affection and honesty. The CM can meet the groups of youths and talk to them freely with answering their pointed questions
frankly. He should also take to task the ineffective cabinet ministers who are publicity hungry and see to it that every evening their meaningless speeches and shallow promises are highlighted through electronic media. People now hate to see their faces regularly.
       Of late, there is an impression growing among the Kashmiris that Omar
is now diverting more attention towards Jammu and Ladakh, quite contrary to his treating all the regions in the State equally in every respect. May be he comparatively finds himself comfortable in these peaceful areas which are almost free   from militancy and are convenient for the movement of a chief minister who has to have about 50 black commandos to guard his person? But this policy of adopting unequal attitude may not prove beneficial to the government and it can also fuel the fire of discontent in the Valley which is already engulfing the Valley almost every day.
       Omar Abdullah has not ascended the seat of power through any back door. He is an elected representative of the people and he is himself responsible to meet the genuine expectations of the suffering Kashmiris.
       Rumours have been set afloat that the coalition government of the NC and Congress is not going along cordially. This is bound to happen for; these two parties doing similar arrangements four times in the past had finally failed. To revive his memory, Omar Abdullah may think about 1953, 1977, 1984 and 1986.  Under these circumstances he has to tread the path carefully and assert himself to shut the mouths of mischief mongers and vested interests in both the parties who are not happy because of being ignored while the cabinet was formed.
       Some time ago, when Omar Abdullah publicly declared that Kashmir was not an economic but a political issue, we hailed his plain talking and acknowledging the reality that six decades old Kashmir problem shall have to be solved in accordance with the wishes of the people of the State and with the convenience of both India and Pakistan. Omar should also put in his personal efforts so that many impediments in the way of settlement are removed through these efforts. 
     If Omar successfully manages to  be out of a vicious circle of sycophants and opportunists and does not bow before angry partners in the coalition, he can then deliver goods which are yet to be delivered. The hairs of this young CM have turned grey within one year’s time. This might be a sign of his gaining maturity. This maturity of mind shall have to   be translated into a reality on the ground level. We wish him all success in his serving the people selflessly.

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Lastupdate on : Sat, 19 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 19 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST