Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today accused his successor Mufti Mohammad Sayeed of sabotaging the NSA-level talks between India and Pakistan, saying he prevented Hurriyat leaders from meeting Pakistan High Commissioner by arresting them.
“Now he (Sayeed) says that NSA talks should have been held. Jenab, if anyone sabotaged those talks, it is you (Sayeed) when you arrested these (Hurriyat) leaders,” Omar said here.
Omar, the working president of National Conference (NC), was speaking to the reporters on the sidelines of a function to mark the 33rd death anniversary of his grandfather and party founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah at Hazratbal.
He said when Sayeed did not allow Hurriyat leaders to talk to Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi, how would he facilitate their dialogue with the Centre as mentioned in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of BJP-PDP coalition.
“Where has that Mufti gone, who used to say that this is the battle of ideas? Those people, with whom his thinking does not match, are arrested. You said in your agenda for alliance (CMP) that you will facilitate dialogue between the Centre and the Hurriyat. (But) when you did not permit Hurriyat to talk to Pakistan in Delhi, how would you let them talk to the Centre.
“Even if I or Farooq (Abdullah) sahab have lakhs of shortcomings, but never were Hurriyat leaders arrested to prevent them from meeting Pakistani leaders in the 12 years that we (Abdullah and me) ruled the state,” he said.
Omar however, also said Pakistan was deliberately creating obstacles in the way of dialogue.
“The atmosphere which is being created is not a good thing. A threat after threat is given. Rather than creating a good atmosphere, they are talking of making the situation worse. The NSA talks did not happen. Now, the DGMO talks are in danger.