India’s Israel ties limited mediation role: Omar

Srinagar, Apr 9: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said India’s close ties with Israel may have limited its ability to play a mediatory role in the ongoing West Asia crisis, remarking that New Delhi could have otherwise acted like Pakistan.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of distribution of appointment letters under Jammu and Kashmir Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme at SKICC Srinagar, CM Omar said that only Israel needed this war. Perhaps India could have played a role like Pakistan if our relations with Israel were not so close, terming it his “personal opinion.”
He stressed that the United States must “rein in Israel” to ensure the success of ongoing ceasefire efforts, asserting that the conflict was not initiated by Iran but “imposed” on it. “If the ceasefire fails, it will not be Iran’s fault but it will only be Israel’s responsibility. The US will have to control Israel,” he said.
Referring to remarks by US President Donald Trump, the Chief Minister said the statements coming from Washington lack consistency. “He says one thing in the morning, another in the afternoon and something else in the evening. The kind of language he uses does not suit anyone, let alone a President,” Omar said, adding that such conduct would get ordinary users blocked on social media platforms.
He further said that “people are afraid” of the US President, which is why no action is taken despite repeated threats, and questioned the larger objective of the conflict. “Before anything else, the purpose of this war should have been made clear,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister distributed appointment letters to 90 beneficiaries under the Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme (RAS), replacing the older SRO-43 scheme, across 10 districts of Kashmir.
Calling it a duty of the government, Omar said, “These appointments are not a favour. This is our responsibility to support families of those who died in service so their households don’t suffer.”
Commenting on reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) regarding shrinking water bodies, he said the situation is visible on the ground. “We don’t need CAG to tell us this—we are living it. Water bodies have either disappeared or shrunk due to urbanisation, land pressure and climate change,” he said.
He stressed that environmental protection requires collective responsibility. “This is not just the government’s job. All of us must act if we want to leave behind a better Jammu and Kashmir for future generations,” he added, urging reduced use of plastic.
On urban local body elections, Omar said they will be held “at the appropriate time,” without specifying any timeline.
Reacting to the proposed Women’s Reservation Bill, the Chief Minister questioned the need for fresh legislation when one had already been passed. “We were told it would be implemented after census and delimitation. What has changed now? The government must clarify,” he said, reiterating support for women’s reservation in principle.
On reported losses in the horticulture sector, Omar said the government is working to roll out a crop insurance scheme announced in the Budget. “Earlier interventions were largely cosmetic. This time, we want real benefit for the common grower,” he said, adding that the scheme will be implemented soon to provide relief against weather-related losses. (KNO)