‎Vande Mataram row: Omar says govt bound by statutory obligation

 ‎Srinagar, Sep 10 : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday defended the playing of the full version of Vande Mataram at government functions, saying the government was bound to follow the law and that the Congress could change it in Parliament if it disagreed with the provision.
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‎Omar was speaking to reporters here at srinagar when he was asked about the controversy between the National Conference and Congress over the full rendition of the national song at the ongoing International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir.
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‎”This is a statutory obligation,” Omar said, adding that the provision applied across the country and not only to Jammu and Kashmir.
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‎He said government functions attended by constitutional authorities would necessarily include the national anthem and, where applicable, the national song.
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‎”This is not only for Jammu and Kashmir, it is for the whole country,” he said, pointing out that Congress-ruled States would also have to follow the provision at official functions.
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‎Omar said the National Conference had never adopted Vande Mataram as a party position but would continue to fulfil its legal and statutory responsibilities as part of the government.
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‎”If Congress comes to power, I pray that Congress comes to power as soon as possible and abolishes this in Parliament. Let them do it. We have no objection,” he said.
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‎He also questioned the Congress’ objection to the playing of the full version at the film festival and said the issue should not be turned into a controversy.
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‎On the Congress’ criticism of NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq, Omar defended his party colleague and said Sadiq had referred to historical accounts of poverty in Kashmir rather than making a personal statement.
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‎He cited British administrator Walter Lawrence and other historians who had written about the economic condition of Kashmiris under the old feudal system.
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‎Omar said Kashmiris had once faced extreme poverty and had been dependent on landlords and other intermediaries, but the situation had changed significantly.
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‎”Tanvir did not talk about this for the first time,” he said, adding that several senior National Conference leaders had spoken about Kashmir’s past economic conditions.
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‎Omar said the point was that Kashmir had moved forward from that period and that families were now educating their children, with many becoming doctors and engineers.
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‎He also alleged that the BJP and PDP were raising the issue together and sharing a “common agenda”, while rejecting any demand for an apology from Sadiq.
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‎”Tanvir did not do anything wrong,” Omar said.
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‎On protests by Kashmiri Pandit employees seeking accommodation, the Chief Minister said those employees who required transit accommodation should approach the government, while rejecting the claim that employees were being left without shelter.
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‎”Not a single one is on the road. Not one of them is homeless,” he said, adding that employees were being allotted accommodation wherever transit facilities were ready.
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‎Omar said the administration was prepared to address genuine cases of employees requiring accommodation and asked those facing such a problem to bring it to the government’s notice.
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‎Turning to the ongoing film festival, Omar said the government wanted local youth to acquire skills in filmmaking, including camera work and production.
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‎He said local youngsters should be encouraged to undertake professional courses and should get opportunities to work when films are shot in Jammu and Kashmir.
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‎The Chief Minister also said the upcoming Cabinet meeting would go ahead as scheduled on September 10, despite a major summit in Delhi that is expected to bring together leaders from several countries.
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‎He said the government holds a Cabinet meeting every month and that its work could not be stopped because of other events.
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‎”The government’s agenda cannot be stopped,” Omar said, adding that there was nothing in the Cabinet agenda that required the government to halt its regular functioning.(KNS)