Mehbooba And Omar Exchange Words on Sainik Colonies

SRINAGAR: Sticking to her stand on the issue of settlement of ex-servicemen in the Valley, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti Monday accused the former chief minister Omar Abdullah of disrupting peace in the state.

Amid reports that some residential apartments were being built near the Sheikh-ul-Alam International Airport in Srinagar, allegedly for the armed forces, Mehbooba said such settlements already exist in parts of Jammu and Kashmir.

"One such colony was inaugurated by National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1975. These are meant for state subjects of Jammu and Kashmir only. I don't understand why you are making an issue out of it," Mehbooba said, pointing to her predecessor Omar.

The separatists have asked the chief minister to drop the issue of constructing Sainik Colony for ex-servicemen in the state, warning that such a move will face "stiff resistance" and "mass agitation" in Jammu and Kashmir.

However, the chief minister said so such colony is being constructed nor has the government issued any order for it.

Flaying the former chief minister, Mehbooba said his tweet of May 7, wherein he had posted a photo of the government's recent communication with the Rajya Sainik Board on the issue of construction of Sainik Colony, was being used by media to disrupt peace in the state.

At this point, Omar, who was watching the proceedings silently, stood up and clarified that his party didn't raise the issue after the chief minister clarified last week that the apartments were meant only for non-state subjects.

"If some people are trying to make an issue out of it now, how can I help it," Omar said, referring to independent lawmaker, Sheikh Abdul Rashid.

"I will not stop tweeting. If it pricks you, I will continue tweeting," Omar added.

Earlier, Rashid, who is going to contest the upcoming bypolls for Anantnag assembly segment against Mehbooba, had brought a copy of a newspaper to the House which had reported that a residential colony was being built near Old Airfield area for armed forces.

“There is a race among three newspapers to put Kashmir on fire. We don't have any problems if you criticise the government on the basis of reports which are based of facts and figures. But you report on the issues without confirming them," she said.