Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday stated his expect remediation of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir were fading as the problem drags out.
While communicating with press reporters here, he was inquired about his next action if statehood was not brought back. To this, Abdullah stated, “Let’s get to that point first. We will talk then.”
The primary minister declined to discuss a report which declared that he would resign if statehood was not brought back to Jammu and Kashmir within a limited timeline.
“I am not going to say anything about that. I have nothing more to say on that. The interviewer tried to ask me questions about that. If I did not answer her, what makes you think that I will answer you?” he included.
Abdullah stated, “I was hopeful (about statehood restoration) from day one, but that hope is diminishing. But the longer this issue drags on, the hopes will fade. The longer you make us wait, the less hopeful we will be.”
The primary minister, nevertheless, stated he was still enthusiastic that statehood would be brought back to Jammu and Kashmir. “There still is some hopefulness there. If it happens within this hopefulness, it will be better,” he stated.
In action to a concern, he stated that if there were no barriers in governance in a Union Territory established, every state would be asking for it.
“If there were no obstacles in governance in a UT set up, am I mad to seek statehood? If it were easy in a UT, then all states would have sought to be a UT.
“There are problems which come forward. The department is under me, and I need to respond to before your house, however the officer in the department is not of my option. There are numerous examples. There are a number of organizations which need to have been under the control of the chosen federal government, however are still not with us,” the chief minister said.
Abdullah said he wanted the issue of statehood to be discussed in the assembly, as it would have revealed where the 28 MLAs of the BJP stood on this.
“We wished to discuss it. It appears that the Speaker has actually put a bar on it. I had no issue discussing it, as one MLA had actually attempted to bring a resolution on statehood. We desired statehood to be gone over, however the Speaker is the custodian of your home.
“I know where I stand on the statehood issue; if a resolution for restoration of statehood comes, I know which way we will vote. But we have a party with 28 MLAs about which we have no idea what they think about statehood. They sought votes on statehood, but the Centre did not restore it,” he stated.
The primary minister stated business guidelines of the Union Territory federal government were pending approval of the Centre.
“A couple of rounds of discussions have taken place between our officers and the Centre. They have raised some questions, but we told them that the business rules we have sent are under the JK Reorganisation Act. We have not gone out of the Act; these rules should be approved,” he stated.
On slapping the general public Safety Act (PSA) on AAP MLA Mehraj Malik, Abdullah stated it was unjustified.
“I still maintain that whatever Mehraj Malik did it did not warrant a PSA. We have a Union minister who branded the entire Muslim community disloyal. If he got away with it, what wrong did Mehraj Malik do?” the chief minister asked.
Abdullah likewise regreted that the Speaker has actually suggested that no sub-judice matter can be talked about in the assembly. “The unfortunate part is that if every sub-judice matter cannot be discussed in the assembly, people will rush to courts so that we cannot talk on any issue in the assembly,” he stated.
The chief minister blasted the BJP MLAs for recommending that his federal government was disregarding flood-affected locations of Jammu, as the bulk there was of the Hindu faith.
“The BJP is under the wrong impression that we govern like they do. It is the BJP that has kept 15 per cent of the population out of the central government. BJP today has not a single Muslim member in the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. They do not find a single Muslim fit enough to be a minister in the Central government.
“We will choose after evaluating the losses, not on the basis of area or faith. We will look for a bundle based on losses, and as quickly as we get the cash, it will be dispersed,” he added.
Asked about the Budgam bypolls, Abdullah admitted that internal politics in the party had increased the complexities there.
“Any bye-election is a difficulty for a federal government. This obstacle is increased by the intricacies of the citizen circulation in Budgam. It is likewise increased by some component of internal politics that is playing out. That stated, I am confident that individuals of Budgam will make the ideal option,” he said.
Without naming the estranged party MP Aga Ruhullah, a three-time former MLA from Budgam, Abdullah said if Budgam is less developed, those representing the constituency are responsible for it.
“Individuals typically state the nearer Budgam is to Srinagar, the less its advancement has actually been. We wish to fix that. Budgam has actually been represented, however it has actually not been established. Individuals accountable for that are those who have actually represented Budgam for a lot of years. It is alright if they might not do it; we will do it,” he added.
On criticism of his government by Anatnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha member Mian Altaf Ahmad, the chief minister said he respected the advice of the veteran party colleague.
“I appreciate Altaf a lot. He is a senior leader of the NC. After reading his declaration, I spoke with him over the phone. He has actually stated from the chair I am resting on, I need to make declarations after believing them through. My dad likewise informs me the very same. That method, there is no distinction in between my daddy and Mian sahib, and I see him as a daddy figure. He is my senior coworker; his guidance is appreciated,” he said.
Asked about criticism by Ruhullah, Abdullah said he does not want to talk about him. “Who are you causing the very same platform? There is a huge distinction in between the 2 (Mian Altaf and Ruhullah),” Abdullah added. PTI
