Rajouri, Apr 20: Asking the Centre to clear what would be the appropriate time for statehood restoration, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that the decision should be taken as people voted for it during polls and it was also a commitment made with the people.
Addressing a public rally at Nowshera in Rajouri, CM Omar said that BJP’s biggest promise with Jammu and Kashmir people was restoration of statehood and it was claimed that initial step would be delimitation followed by elections and then restoration of statehood.
“BJP is backtracking from this promise despite people across J&K having voted for it and now people are being punished through delay in statehood restoration for no reason,” he said.
Referring to the BJP statement of restoration of statehood at an appropriate time, the CM asked BJP to clear the air about this appropriate time.
“What is this appropriate time? When will it come? What we have to do to get to this appropriate time? BJP must tell this,” he said.
CM Omar also took a dig at BJP and said that family members and friends of NC leaders were being targeted through different means and this was their worst part.
“BJP cannot compete with NC leaders on political grounds and thus have stepped too low and are targeting our families and friends,” he said.
The CM said that the brother of NC leader and Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary was a Police officer whose promotion was stopped.
He was transferred to Ladakh and then cornered in every possible manner for the only reason that he is brother of the Deputy CM.
CM Omar reiterated commitment to fulfil all the promises made with people of J&K during elections and included in manifesto.
“I assure every citizen that all promises made by us will be fulfilled,” he said. “Our government will regularise all daily wagers and increase honorarium of Anganwadi and ASHA workers.”
The CM said that NC government had also fulfilled many promises made with people during elections that include six free cylinders to poor families and free travel for women in buses.
Accusing the Centre of eye-washing the people of the country on women reservation bill, he said that Women Reservation Bill was approved in 2023 and entire opposition voted in favour but BJP again brought in a new bill which was to cover up the delimitation bill.
“Why BJP remained silent for women reservation bill approved in 2023 and after three years, a new bill has been brought. It shows that things were done only for eye wash,” CM Omar said.
He also took a dig on the delimitation exercise done in Jammu and Kashmir last year and said that delimitation was done as wanted by BJP and they also won six out of seven new created seats.
