Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said that the Cabinet Sub Committee’s report on reservation has been accepted and forwarded for necessary examinations. He also said the water resources of Jammu and Kashmir will be used for its people and can’t be diverted to other places.
Speaking to media in Jammu, the Chief Minister, said the legal examination process can’t be hijacked. “It is for the first time that a committee formed on any issue has submitted its report in a set timeline. The cabinet has accepted the report on reservation and forwarded it for necessary examination,” he said while reacting to a query on delay in addressing reservation issue.
He added the opposition parties, who are presently making hue and cry over the issue remained tight-lipped when this issue came into existence. “PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti preferred silence on the issue when she was contesting elections from south Kashmir. She has no right to raise this issue now,” he said.
Asked about suspension of India Water Treaty and diversion of water from J&K, he said water resources will be used for the benefits of own people first. “There is draught-like situation in Jammu. Taps are running dry. We will try to utilise the water for our own people,” he said.
“I will not allow the diversion of water from J&K for any project. Did Punjab provide us water earlier. Why should we allow diversion of our water to Punjab for any project,” he said, adding that they are presently working on two projects including Tulbul Navigation Barrage and pumping water to Jammu from Akhnoor.
He added escalation between Israel and Iran is not favourable. “The intelligence chief of America has recently made a claim that Iran is nowhere in sight for nuclear war. What prompted Israel now to attack Iran. This escalation is not a positive move. Our 1400 people are stuck in Iran. We have been trying our best to evacuate all of them. 90 among them have been evacuated while 400 more are being shifted soon,” he said.
About statehood, the Chief Minister said that they are still hopeful that promises made by the Prime Minister from time to time regarding its restoration will be fulfilled. (KNO)
