'J&K Wouldn't Have Been In Current Situation Had Vajpayee's Approach Been Adopted': Omar Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, addressing the J-K Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, stated that the region would not be facing its current challenges had the central ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) followed the late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s approach. Speaking during an obituary reference in the Assembly, Abdullah paid tribute to Vajpayee, recalling his efforts to bridge divides and improve the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Highlighting Vajpayee’s landmark 1999 visit to Pakistan via the Delhi-Lahore bus, Abdullah remarked, “When Vajpayee went to Pakistan in 1999 on the maiden Delhi-Lahore bus, he had visited Minar-e-Pakistan which was not easy to do. Then he stood at the border and said we can change friends but not the neighbours. Vajpayee said dialogue was the only way out. He repeatedly extended a hand of friendship despite facing setbacks”, news agency PTI reported.

Abdullah, who served in Vajpayee's council, credited him for his consistent efforts to reduce tensions in Jammu and Kashmir, noting, “He always tried to improve the situation in J-K, he tried to ease the tension.” Reflecting on Vajpayee's efforts to open cross-Line of Control (LoC) routes, Abdullah said, “He wanted to bring people across closer. He tried to bring the civil society closer. Today, attempts are made to keep us apart.”