Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
| Photo Credit: ANI
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday pitched for the relaxation of harsh police verification processes put in place in the union territory post-2019, saying he “does not consider a militant’s son a militant”.
Speaking at the first press conference since assuming the office of Chief Minister in October last year, Mr. Abdullah admitted to a truncated role on security matters till Statehood is restored but called for “ease in police verification processes”. “We do not consider a militant’s son a militant. In the past, we did away with blacklisting [of families]. We can’t instruct given the order [in the union territory] but we hope for easing of verification processes. I have already spoken to the CID chief regarding the issue,” Mr. Abdullah said.
The Chief Minister faced a number of questions on harsh police verification processes employed for passports and jobs to family members of militants and separatists, accreditation of journalists and dismissal of employees by the Lieutenant Governor. “As a State a lot could be done [in these matters] but not as a union territory. We do need Statehood back,” Mr. Abdullah said. The National Conference had promised to revisit cases of termination of employees and ease verification processes in its manifesto.
Rules out friction
The Chief Minister, who was accompanied by his Cabinet ministers and top officials, also ruled out any major friction with the Raj Bhawan. “It’s still a learning experience to know where our authority starts and ends and where the Lieutenant Governor’s authority starts and ends. The friction is more of a figment of imagination. The business rules are being vetted by legal luminaries and its introduction will bring a lot of clarity soon,” Mr. Abdullah said.
He said it was a conscious decision to meet the top leadership of the ruling BJP over the Statehood issue instead of going to the court. “Going to the court would mean a fight, which is our last option. I met the top leadership with the hope that the commitment made to us on Statehood will be fulfilled. I expect it to happen soon. I have been assured that I will get the same support as was extended to the L-G and there will be no bid to destabilise this government in the face of the verdict of the people in the elections,” the Chief Minister said.
He said his government faced no pressure from the Centre, the Raj Bhawan or the BJP “over their stand on issues so far”. “No one tried to change the wording [on the issues],” he added.
Dual power system
However, he minced no words in opposing the current dual power system in Jammu and Kashmir. “Dual centres of power work nowhere whether a business model, a media house or a security set-up. There is a need to have one head to make the system work better,” he added.
On relationship with the ally Congress, he reiterated that his party was a part of the INDIA bloc and the Congress was supporting his government from outside. “The Congress stand is that it will wait for Statehood’s restoration to join the government,” he said.
In a reply to a question on whether the Kashmir issue was over, Mr. Abdullah cited the other part of Kashmir held by Pakistan as a case in point. “We assume that the issue of this part of Jammu and Kashmir is permanently resolved, what about the other part? It hasn’t been resolved,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mr. Abdullah sounded resentful about the Raj Bhawan’s decision not to include his grandfather and party founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah’s birthday in the list of holidays this year. “Ideally it should have made it to the holiday list given the emotions attached. But Sheikh sahib’s contribution does not end or begin with December 5 (his birthday). A farmer going to fields and a student going to school in Jammu and Kashmir and the SKICC where we sit today is his legacy,” he said.
He also downplayed the recent protest by his own party’s Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah outside his office over reservation issue as one “that reflected that democracy exists in the party”. “The Cabinet sub-committee and the High court would work in parallel, and as I have promised to the student representatives, the issue will be resolved within six months. Currently, the bigger cause is protection of our lands and jobs for locals and not internal fight,” Mr. Abdullah said.
Facing criticism over the electricity crisis, the Chief Minister underlined that his government will only provide 200 units free once meters were installed. “When we roll out the scheme in March or April only those who have meters installed will be benefited,” he said.
Published – January 02, 2025 12:19 pm IST
