Jahangeer Ganaie
Pulwama, Apr 15: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that downgrading Jammu and Kashmir from a State to a Union Territory has significantly hit the administrative accountability and efficiency.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating a bridge damaged in 2014 floods at Rohmoo, here in south Kashmir, the Chief Minister said that dedicating this bridge to the people 11 years after getting damaged in floods was just a beginning and many more works are to be done in the five years.
He highlighted the stark contrast between functioning as a Chief Minister of a State and that of a Union Territory.
Reflecting on his tenure as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir when it was a state, he said, “Back then, if I directed officials to execute a task, they would come up with ten different ways to get it done. But now, under the Union Territory setup, the same officials find ten different excuses to avoid doing that very task.”
He said in the first instance, the government brought a resolution to reject the August 5, 2019 decision and also demanded its restoration in the first Assembly Session, adding that in the first cabinet meeting; a resolution was passed and handed over to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi by him personally.
However, he said that some people are unhappy with it by saying that statehood is not our goal. “When have we claimed that statehood is our goal? It is just a way to achieve our goal. We will have to reach our goal by following steps and thus statehood restoration is a big way for it,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that they are of the belief that the apt time has come for its restoration as six months have already elapsed since the elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir. “During the recent visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Jammu and Kashmir, I had a detailed discussion with him. I am hopeful that the statehood would be restored soon,” he said.
Assuring people of his commitment to local rights, Omar promised that his party would introduce legislation ensuring that jobs are reserved exclusively for the local youth.
The Chief Minister referred to Himachal Pradesh, where a law mandates that 70% of jobs in private industries be reserved for local residents.
He questioned why a similar provision cannot be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir. “If our neighboring state can safeguard employment opportunities for its people, why should Jammu and Kashmir be any different?” he asked.
He also asserted that only the people of Jammu and Kashmir should have ownership and control over their natural resources, including minerals.
Speaking about the promises made during the election campaign, Omar claimed that several of them have already been fulfilled. These include the provision of free electricity and ration for the economically weaker sections and the introduction of free bus travel for women. “People will not have to wait for five years to see our promises materialize. We are determined to fulfill each one of them in a short span,” he assured.
