"I am surprised that the separatists can talk to Parliamentarians, who have taken oath of the Indian constitution and treat Kashmir as an integral part of the country. What is the harm in talking to the interlocutors, who have no boundaries or red lines," Omar said addressing a public rally at Pahalgam, 100 km from Srinagar in south Kashmir's Anantnag district.
Omar said the separatists should hold talks with the three interlocutors appointed by the Centre as their recommendations go to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. "I want to tell Syed Ali Shah Geelani (hardline Hurriyat Conference leader) that these double standards on dialogue will not work," he said.
The Centre appointed veteran journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, academician Radha Kumar and former Information Commissioner M M Ansari as interlocutors for Jammu and Kashmir in October last year, following the summer unrest in the Valley, to interact with all sections of the state for finding a lasting solution to Kashmir issue.
Omar said the interlocutors have made a "good beginning" and have changed the discourse of dialogue in the state. The CM, while talking to reporters, responded to queries about the power crisis in the Kashmir valley and urged the people to use electricity honestly and judiciously. "People go to mosques to pray but when they return home, they indulge in power theft. Consumers pay for one bulb but use four. They can use as much as they want but they should also pay accordingly," he said.
Apparently referring to the criticism of opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Omar said no new power projects were taken up between 2002 and 2008, when the National Conference was in the opposition.
"Since coming to power, we have initiated some new power projects in collaboration with the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation. I do not claim that all the power problems will be gone but during the term of my government, these will be substantially reduced," he said.
On the alleged infighting among party workers in Pahalgam, Omar asked them to overcome their differences and work for strengthening the party. "We do not follow personalities in National Conference we work under a flag," he added.
