Cabinet expansion, reshuffle to take place around Jantar Mantar protest: CM

Srinagar, Jul 1: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that the cabinet expansion and reshuffle would take place around the party’s protest on statehood at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
Speaking to a news channel, the CM said that the cabinet expansion and reshuffle would happen either slightly before or shortly after the Jantar Mantar protest.
“Expansion and reshuffle are my responsibility. After Dachigam meeting, I feel it is necessary to make some movement. This could take place slightly before our Jantar Mantar protest or slightly after it, but it would happen around that time,” Omar said.
The ruling NC has decided to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar on the first day of the Monsoon Session, which is likely to begin on July 20.
In Dachigam meeting held on June 03, Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary had come under sharp criticism over allocation of funds in the Roads & Buildings Ministry as well as his behaviour with MLAs.
Two other ministers- Javid Rana and Satish Sharma- had also faced brickbats from NC and independents legislators supporting the party.
The CM today also said that Jammu and Kashmir’s revenues are not enough even to cover government salaries.
“We don’t earn that much. Even after adding all taxes, the central share, and the state share, it is not enough to pay salaries. We should be able to bear the burden of salaries, pensions, and other expenses, but the financial condition of Jammu and Kashmir is not good,” he said.
Omar added that J&K’s dependence on the central government for funds has become habitual. “Our habits are not very good. We feel that everything must come from the central government and that we will not do anything ourselves. Whichever government comes here will have to bend before the central government,” he said. (KNO)