Srinagar. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said he will not allow “vested interests” to stop the benefits of peace and development from reaching the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who had “enthusiastically” participated in the recently concluded assembly elections. Omar’s statement comes a day after the terrorist attack on a tunnel construction site in Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir, in which seven people, including a doctor and six migrant laborers, were killed.
Speaking to journalists in Srinagar, Omar said that he will ensure that there is no hindrance in getting the benefits of development to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said, “People had participated enthusiastically in the elections with the hope that their lives would improve. “We will not back down from that objective.” The Chief Minister had reached SKIMS Hospital in Soura to inquire about the condition of the people injured in the terrorist attack in Gagangir area of Ganderbal district on Sunday night.
When asked whether people with vested interests were trying to target development projects in Jammu and Kashmir, Omar said he would not allow this to happen. He asked, “When did people with vested interests want the situation to become normal here? “This is nothing new, but we have defeated these vested interests in the past and we will defeat them again.”
Omar said, “We will not let development stop in Jammu and Kashmir. If there are shortcomings in the security framework, we will remove them. I have spoken to the DGP (Director General of Police) and we will advise all big projects not to take security issues lightly.” He said, “Let them do whatever they can themselves and let the security forces remove whatever shortcomings remain.” The Chief Minister termed the terrorist attack on the tunnel construction site as ‘extremely unfortunate’.
He said, “There are no words to condemn this attack. What can be achieved by resorting to terror against innocent people? We have been seeing this for the last 35 years and nothing has changed in Jammu and Kashmir.” Omar said, “Whatever can be achieved for Jammu and Kashmir is possible in a peaceful environment. Obviously the reason behind this attack is to prove that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is not favourable.”