Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Dec 20: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said he has consistently acknowledged and given credit to the Centre wherever it has acted fairly and deserved recognition.
Talking to the reporters here, CM Omar said, “I will not lie to please anyone over the unfulfilled promise of restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. I have never hesitated to criticise the Centre where it has fallen short.”
He said that where the Centre has helped he has thanked them. “But when it comes to the issue of statehood, apart from assurances, nothing has been given,” CM Omar said, adding, “I won’t mislead people just to please someone. I say the same thing here, in Delhi, and in the Assembly.”
Rejecting suggestions that his tone changes between Srinagar and Delhi, Omar said, “Give me one example of where I have spoken differently. I am not among those who play politics or deceive the public. Wherever the Centre does the right thing, I appreciate it; where it falls short, I say so openly.”
While referring to the snowfall prediction, the Chief Minister said his government has ensured full preparations in both divisions. “I came to Srinagar and held a meeting covering both the Kashmir and Jammu divisions, especially the areas where snowfall is expected. All preparations have been made, but whether these will prove sufficient or not will only be known after tomorrow, once snowfall actually begins,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the administration is “eagerly waiting” for snowfall as it will bring multiple benefits. “Even if this snowfall causes some inconvenience, none of us will complain. It will clean the air, reduce pollution and truly mark the beginning of our winter tourist season,” he said.
Omar also hit out at the reported move to rename the MGNREGA scheme as the ‘G-Ram-Ji Bill’, calling it “ill-thought, absurd and harmful to the spirit of federalism.” “First, Mahatma Gandhi’s name is being removed and then the financial burden is being shifted to the states. This will hurt states like ours. At least put some thought into naming a Bill—‘G-Ram-Ji’ sounds more like a Bollywood title than a welfare law,” he said with a smile.
Later, speaking to reporters in Katra, Omar said the long dry spell since November had caused distress across J&K, with rising pollution and reduced water levels. “We are waiting for the rain and snow and it is been dry since November. I can feel water shortage everywhere, and pollution has also gone up in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
He added that snowfall would not only clean the air but also revive winter tourism. “Whether it’s rain or snow, the air will get cleaner. The bigger thing is that our winter tourist season will start. If there’s snow in Patnitop, Bhaderwah, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, or Gulmarg, tourists from across the country will come to enjoy the beauty,” he said.
Asked about BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia’s remarks that Rahul Gandhi “defames India abroad,” Omar replied, “Is it a crime to go abroad? Everyone does it, the Prime Minister, ministers and others. So why should the BJP object when Rahul Gandhi does the same? Why this selective outrage?”
