Srinagar, Jan 12 (KNS): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday stated that he would oppose any proposal requiring passengers to change trains at Katra, arguing that such a move would defeat the purpose of the railway line. Omar made this clarification after Peoples Conference President Sajad Gani Lone criticised his earlier statement, “if it is necessary for security then I don’t think anyone should object to it.”
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Omar clarified that he would not support any proposal to change trains at Katra. “Just to remove any chance of misunderstanding, while we understand the need to secure the train and the passengers who will travel using it, making passengers change trains will defeat the very purpose of the line and render the thousands of crores of investment pointless,” Omar said.
He added that while trains and passengers can be checked in Katra, his government would not support a change of trains.
Omar’s post came after Peoples Conference President Sajad Gani Lone criticized him for his earlier remarks. In a post on X, Lone urged Omar to stop justifying everything the BJP does. “Please give us all a break. Stop justifying everything and anything that the BJP does.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelBy justifying security excuses, you can virtually justify everything. That is what current and past governments have done,” Lone said.
Lone said that he is not surprised at Omar Abdullah’s right-wing views on security issues. “Wish our people had remembered your utterances as NDA Union minister. I, per se, am not surprised at your right-wing views on security issues,” he said.
He accused Omar of sounding like Delhi’s man in Kashmir. “Then and now—you sound like Delhi’s man in Kashmir. And they are yet to admit you into the NDA,” Lone said.
Lone further stated that the people of J&K would forget five years of direct central rule when Omar Abdullah joins hands with the BJP. “I said it umpteen times and will repeat it. The day you join them, people will forget the past five years. You will create new records in torture,” he said.
Lone argued that changing trains in Katra erodes the train’s psychological relevance. “And I would love to know what they will do security-related in Katra that they can’t do in Srinagar?” he asked.(KNS)