Not army’s job to float parties: Omar

JAMMU - Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has denounced reports suggesting the army is seeking to float political parties in Jammu and Kashmir with the help of counter-insurgency leaders.

“The issue about former militants floating a political party in the state has been blown out of proportion. It has been projected as if the ministry of home affairs and army are behind this move,” Abdullah said in an interview with Greater Kashmir, a prominent newspaper published simultaneously from Jammu and Srinagar, Monday.

“I want to make it clear that it is not the army’s job to float political parties,” Omar said.

Media reports regarding such a move had appeared in Pakistani press, which were later picked up by some Indian media organisations.

Abdullah said counter-insurgents cannot succeed politically and recalled their dismal performance in the 2002 and 2008 assembly elections, though a top counter-insurgent leader, Mohammad Yusuf Parray, better known as Kukka Parray, was elected to the assembly in 1996.

Abdullah felt people had rejected counter-insurgents. “Fact is that people do not vote for them. You need to give credit to Kashmiri voters, they know well who is who,” he added.

“Till date many former separatists and militants have contested the elections and we have seen their performance,” Abdullah said in an obvious attack on separatist leaders, particularly Sajjad Gani Lone who had contested in 2009 and lost.