Omar engaging in doublespeak over IIT issue: People's Democratic Party

Opposition Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party(PDP) hit out at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday, accusing him of doublespeak over the issue of central government planning to set up an IIT in Jammu region of the state. 

PDP leader and Srinagar MP Tariq Hamid Karra said Omar had a month ago opposed plan for IITs and IIMs in every state as "a terrible idea". But he had yesterday accused PDP of maintaining criminal silence over the Centre sanctioning an IIT for Jammu while ignoring Kashmir. "It seems the Chief Minister... forgets even his own tweets," Karra said.

Karra said the Chief Minister had only one month ago opposed establishment of IITs and IIMs in every state. "IITs and IIMs in every state is a terrible idea and will dilute these institutions," Omar had tweeted on June 9.

Karra said Omar must explain his objections to the proposal in the light of announcements of an IIT for Jammu, and not try to mislead the people of Kashmir again who are aware of the PDP's performance in three years as against the National Conference's dominance of political scene of Kashmir for several decades.

He said if head of the state government himself opposes the very idea of setting up new institutions, how does he expect the opposition to get him out of the mess of his own making. "But it is a sign of changing times, if Omar expects us to bring an IIT to Kashmir, we assure that we won't disappoint our people," he added.

Karra said the PDP will fight for Kashmir's right to have an IIM and IIT "even though Omar bartered away the IIM sanctioned for Kashmir last time to satisfy his personal ego".