I was blamed for creating one, but they've created many Burhan Wanis: Omar Abdullah

Omar also questioned the government about the role of Dineshwar Sharma who has been appointed as the Centre's representative in Kashmir.

SRINAGAR: Hitting out at the Jammu and Kashmir government, former chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday claimed that terrorism has increased in the state under the present government.

"I was told that I had a role to play in creating Burhan Wani. But have you ever thought how many Burhan Wani have you created in the last one and a half year after coming to power? If I am responsible for one, how many are you responsible for," Omar questioned.

Omar also asked the government about what is the role of Dineshwar Sharma who has been appointed as the Centre's representative in Kashmir. "We don't know what Dineshwar Sharma's role is? Is he is a spokesman, an interlocutor or a special representative? Is there a time frame or will he be here indefinitely," Abdullah said in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.

Burwan was a 22-year-old Hizbul commander who was killed by the security forces in Kashmir in July 2016. Following his death, the valley was in a state of lockdown for the longest time. 

There has been a situation of unease in the state. To resolve the issue and begin a dialogue with all stakeholders in Kashmir, the Centre had in October appointed former Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Dineshwar Sharma as the Centre's "special representative" in Jammu and Kashmir.

Omar's statement comes on a day when his father and National Conference leader Dr Farooq Abdullah appreciated Narendra Modi saying that the Prime Minister has the courage to hold talks with Pakistan.

"I congratulate Jammu and Kashmir CM for realizing that till we have talks with Pakistan, militancy will not end. I feel Modi ji has the courage to initiate this and take it to the logical end," Dr. Abdullah said.