Jammu - After a heated exchange between National Conference and BJP MLAs in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that there is no comparison between the divided parts of Kashmir as the situation across the border is very bad despite Pakistan getting help from China. Abdullah said that every part of Jammu and Kashmir is quite developed, although "we have not sought help from China, America, England or France to build our roads." The Chief Minister made these remarks to pacify members of the opposition BJP and the ruling National Conference, who had a spat over his remarks on development in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
"Whatever development has taken place in the areas across the border is due to China's blessings," Abdullah said. During the Question Hour, National Conference MLA and former minister Saifullah Mir said that the infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is better than on this (Indian) side. He also advocated for a tunnel to provide all-weather connectivity to the border areas of Keran and Jumagund in Kupwara district. BJP MLA RS Pathania objected to the comparison of the two sides. National Conference MLA Nazir Gurezi and Peoples Conference MLA Sajjad Gani Lone defended Mir. They highlighted the challenges faced by the locals, especially during winters when roads remain closed for months due to snow.
Speaker Abdullah Rahim Rathore assured smooth functioning of the assembly. But he later condemned Mir's remarks and sought an explanation from National Conference leader Omar Abdullah.
Abdullah later said, "Whatever has been done across the border is a show and that too they (Pakistan) did not do on their own. Whatever development has taken place in the areas across the border has happened with the blessings of China, while there has been no development in the other areas.'' He said that this development may be a subject of discussion, but there is nothing wrong in sharing with everyone what Mir, who lives near the Line of Control, has seen.