CM welcomes BJP dropping Jammu statehood agenda
Gulmarg: Asserting that it’s ‘good’ if Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) doesn’t have any agenda of carving out Jammu as a separate state, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said (BJP) and its few friends in Kashmir had initiated this debate.
Responding to BJP leader Tarun Chug’s claim that demands for Jammu’s separation stem from the National Conference (NC), Omar said that it was the BJP that ignited the controversy.
“The BJP MLAs started this debate. How many of them should I name? We never wanted Jammu and Kashmir to be separated,” the Chief Minister said.
He reiterated his party’s long-standing stance on maintaining the territorial and administrative unity of the region.
CM Omar also recalled his party’s opposition to the separation of Ladakh from Jammu and Kashmir, stating that he still believes Ladakh should be reintegrated with J&K. “We were against Ladakh being separated from Jammu and Kashmir, and we still want it to become part of J&K,” he said.
Referring to recent concerns over selection results in the judiciary where majority of the candidates are from Jammu region, CM Omar said, “Disparities should not be viewed through the lens of religion or regional bias. In selection list for medical seats the trend was opposite. We should stop seeing everything through the prism of religion and region and leave it to merit,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that if there are genuine allegations of wrongdoing, the government is ready to act. “If you tell me a fraud has been committed, I will investigate it. But we should not play politics on merit,” he warned.
Omar also cautioned that politicising such issues could have serious consequences, recalling past events. “It is the same politics that was played in Jammu which led to the closure of a medical college,” he said.
CM also expressed optimism for hosting the Khelo India Games on schedule this season, pinning hopes on fresh snowfall after last year’s postponement due to snow shortages.
While inspecting complaints over snow clearance, electricity disruptions and technical snags in the newly launched ski lift in Gulmarg, CM Omar said technical faults will be cleared as soon as possible. “Won’t leave from here until that gets restored”.
Highlighting snow’s dual role in boosting tourism and averting summer water scarcity, CM said more precipitation is expected soon, which is a positive sign for the valley’s economy.
The Chief Minister described the upcoming budget as people-friendly, similar to previous years, aimed at easing public inconveniences.
CM Omar also said that weather challenges have slashed power supply from the targeted 1700 MW daily to just 100 MW amid gusty winds and snow, though levels crossed 1500 MW by last night. “Far-flung areas are yet to receive it, but officials have assured full restoration today.”
Commenting on the allegations over irregularities in the Judicial Services Mains Exams, the CM said that all administrative and recruitment decisions should be based on merit, warning that any attempt to politicise examinations would not be tolerated.
“Everything should not be seen through religion or region. Some decisions must rest on merit alone. Those who qualify on merit deserve their place,” Abdullah told reporters while addressing concerns over the Judicial Services Mains results controversy in Kashmir.
The Chief Minister added that a thorough investigation would be conducted if evidence of wrongdoing emerged.
“If you bring evidence of fraud, I am ready to order an investigation. If anyone used unfair means, cheated, or manipulated then examination, I will ensure a full probe,” he said.
Commenting on electricity supply, the Chief Minister said high winds and snow had reduced power availability from 1,700 MW to 100 MW temporarily, but it had crossed 1,500 MW by the previous night.
He expressed confidence that restoration in the snowiest areas would be completed very soon.
Abdullah said the Jammu and Kashmir government had never supported the separation of any part of the state.
“We did not want to see Jammu and Kashmir being separated from each other. Ladakh was separated, but we want to see it united with Jammu and Kashmir. It should never have been separated. We did not want to separate Jammu either,” he said, adding that the BJP and its allies were responsible for the division. (with agency inputs)
