Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday exuded hope that the Union Territory status of Jammu and Kashmir won’t remain a permanent feature and the BJP-led Central Government would stand by its promise to restore the statehood.
Talking to reporters at the sidelines of an orientation programme for legislators here, Omar said, “We are hopeful about the Centre fulling its promise of restoring J&K’s statehood.”
Expressing dismay over what he called the “lack of clarity” regarding the agenda pf INDIA bloc, the Chief Minister said alliance should be wound up if it was meant only for the parliamentary elections. “They should call all the members for a meeting. If this alliance was only for the parliamentary elections, it should be wound up, and we will work separately. But if it is meant for Assembly elections as well, we will have to sit together and work collectively,” Omar said.
Claiming that there is no clarity regarding the main leadership, the party, or the agenda for future strategy (in the INDIA bloc), he said, “Whether this alliance will continue is also unclear.”
The J&K Chief Minister also said that perhaps the members of the INDIA bloc will be called for a meeting after the Delhi elections, and a clarity would emerge.
Replying to another query on increasing support for AAP ahead of next month’s Delhi elections, he said, “I cannot say anything about this at the moment because we have no involvement with Delhi polls. The Aam Aadmi Party, Congress, and other political parties on the ground will decide how to compete with the BJP strongly.”
Stating that AAP succeeded twice in Delhi previously, he said, “This time, we will have to wait and see what the people of Delhi decide.”
Orientation programme for J&K Assembly
On the orientation programme convened for the newly-elected legislators, Omar said, “Many of us have been members of this House before, but that was when Jammu and Kashmir was a state. The system is different today. We need to understand how we are going to work and what the powers of this Assembly are.”
The Chief Minister said that to familiarise everyone with the procedures of this system, Assembly Speaker Abdur Rahim Rather organised the orientation programme. “The deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha also participated in this exercise. I believe the experience of the senior members will prove beneficial. In the upcoming sessions, the MLAs will represent the people better and raise their issues effectively,” he added.
He asked legislators to adapt to the unique challenges of working in a Union Territory assembly.
He praised the Speaker for organising the orientation programme, emphasising its value for both new and experienced legislators. “I have been elected six times in various capacities — three times to Parliament and three times to the Assembly. But this is the first time I am attending such an orientation programme,” he said.
Reflecting on his own experience, Omar admitted his early years as a parliamentarian lacked a strong foundation. “If such an orientation programme had been organised when I was first elected to Parliament, I would have been better prepared. Even today, I cannot confidently explain how to introduce a private member’s bill or raise an issue under Rule 377 despite having spent many years there,” he said.
The Chief Minister said, “While I can say we should avoid disruptions and maintain decorum, the reality is that such disruptions will happen. The calmness we are witnessing today is probably the first and last time we experience this,” he remarked—(KNO)
