Omar reiterates his promise to seek Sadr-e-Riyasat, PM posts for JK

Srinagar: National Conference Vice President and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday reiterated his promise of getting back the State’s executive posts of Sadr-e-Riyasat and Prime Minister while asking the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to go through the history of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We have not been asking something new. We have had our own Prime minister and Sadr-e-Riyasat till 1965. Whatever, I talked about is part of the constitution,” Omar said while addressing a gathering in Pattan area of Baramulla district.
Omar said that PM Modi should go through the history of Jammu and Kashmir which will give him an insight about Jammu and Kashmir.
“He (Modi) should read the history of India and see under which circumstances Jammu and Kashmir became part of India,” Omar said.
On Monday, Prime Minister Modi had attacked the opposition over Omar’s comments.
“National Conference wants 2 PMs, 1 in Kashmir & 1 for rest of India. Does Mamata Didi agree? Does U-Turn Babu agree? Does Pawar Sahab agree? Does former PM Deve Gowda Ji agree? Shame on the Opposition! Till Modi is there, no one can divide India!” the prime minister had tweeted on Monday.
In its manifesto, Cong promise appointment of intercutors for Kashmir dialogue, AFSPA review in JK
SrinagarThe Congress proposed to reduce the presence of the army and central armed police forces (CAPFs) in the Kashmir in its manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, released on Tuesday at New Delhi.
The Congress manifesto, which was released in Delhi on Tuesday by party president Rahul Gandhi, added that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the Disturbed Areas Act in Jammu and Kashmir will be reviewed.
On AFSPA, Congress added that it will make suitable changes in the text of the laws to balance requirements of security and the protection of human rights. The party said that it will also appoint three interlocutors to widen the ambit of dialogue on Kashmir amid claims that “Kashmir was an integral part of India.”
Congress promised to review the deployment of armed forces, move more troops to the border to stop infiltration completely, reduce the presence of the Army and CAPFs in the Kashmir Valley, the manifesto said.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surejwala, however, clarified the party stand and said; we will not withdraw it without consulting the army. It will be discussed on case to case basis, but not without consulting the army. There are some areas, where AFPSA is required.
In the 53-page manifesto, Congress affirmed that the whole of Jammu and Kashmir is part of India. We also acknowledge the unique history of the state and the unique circumstances under which the State acceded to India that led to the inclusion of Article 370 in the Constitution of India. Nothing will be done or allowed to change the Constitutional position, the Congress manifesto added.
Highlighting that dialogue is the only way forward in Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress said, We will adopt a two-pronged approach: firstly, uncompromising firmness on the border and ending infiltration; and secondly, absolute fairness in dealing with the demands of the people and winning their hearts and minds.
The Congress also promised three Congress interlocutors to hold talks in the state. We promise the people of J&K talks without pre-conditions. We will appoint three interlocutors drawn from civil society to facilitate such talks, the manifesto added.