Don't see every Kashmiri through prism of terrorism, says Omar

 Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday requested governments of other states not to see every Kashmiri through the prism of terrorism.

“Every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir is not a terrorist. He does not come (to your state) with the intention of attack. If they come, they come under compulsion or for their benefit,” Omar said while addressing placements handing over function under ‘Himayat’ scheme in Jammu.

Political colour

However, he lashed out at those who he said were giving political colour to every incident involving Kashmiris outside the state. “Some people in the state try to give racial colour to every simple incident of personal nature that a Kashmiri comes across in the day to day routine life process outside the state,” said Omar.

Quoting Hyderabad incident where a Kashmiri boy (Mudassir Kamran) allegedly committed suicide for personal reasons last month, he said, “In Kashmir, it was tried to be analysed in a different way. As if he was murdered.”

Pointing out another incident in Bangalore, in which some boys from Kashmir were beaten up, he said, “Recently in Bangalore, the fight took place because they (Kashmiri boys) were making fun of students from Bihar. If they would not have been doing that, probably the incident would not have taken place.”

“To say that these children were from Kashmir and that is why they were beaten is totally wrong,” he said. He always discusses with his counterparts from other states during chief minister’s conferences and personal meetings the need for creating a secure atmosphere for the youth of J&K in their states.

Union minister for rural development Jairam Ramesh said the Centre has launched a major scheme for the upliftment of women in the state.

“Under Mahila Shayita Samuh (MSS), Rs 800 crore will be incurred on socio-economic welfare and upliftment of women in Jammu and Kashmir. A scheme namely Umeed has been launched in this regard in the state,” he said.

On ‘Himayat’, launched in the state in 2011, he said it is marching ahead to realise the set goal of providing trainings and jobs to one lakh Jammu and Kashmir youths, mostly school drop-outs and lesser qualified, during the five year period.
He said over 5,000 youths have been provided jobs in various companies within and outside the state since the inception of the scheme.

Over 15,000 more would be given training and placements during 2013-14.