‘Dual Centres of Power are not to anyone’s Advantage’: Omar
Shadow Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 2 :
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday hoped that Union Territory status is only a temporary phase and expressed optimism for a swift return to statehood.
Omar asserted that the courts remain an option for restoration of J&K’s statehood, but it would be the last option.
The chief minister made these remarks while addressing the media in Srinagar, marking his first press interaction since assuming office as the Chief Minister of the Union Territory. “We hope that the UT status of Jammu and Kashmir is a temporary
Hope J&K Statehood
phase—it’s only a matter of time,” he said. The Chief Minister pointed out the active participation of the people of J&K in the Assembly elections, which received praise from the country’s leadership for exceeding expectations.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir took part in the elections with hope, and now they expect something in return,” he remarked.
Omar underscored the significance of the central government’s commitment to restoring statehood.
“We hope it will not take long. A year has passed since the Supreme Court’s verdict on Article 370, which stated that statehood should be restored as soon as possible. A year, in our view, is sufficient for such a commitment,” he asserted.
When asked as to why he didn’t take legal recourse for seeking statehood after winning a massive mandate in Assembly polls, Omar said though the courts remain an option, it should be the last option.
“Going to the court for statehood would be a fight, but our first option is to remind the central government of their promises. We retain the right to approach the courts if necessary,” he said.
Omar reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to serve the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief Minister Omar said the “dual centres” of governance- the Raj Bhawan and the elected government-in J&K model does not benefit anyone.
“Obviously, the dual centres of power are not to anyone’s advantage. If dual systems of power were effective tools of governance, you would see it everywhere. …Systems work better when there is a single point of command,” he said.
Omar said there have been “one or two areas where there have been differences of opinion” on some issues with the Raj Bhawan as to whose authority this was, but not on the scale at which it is being speculated.
The Chief Minister said the “business rules” for the government would be framed after proper consultations.
Omar shared insights into the challenges and adjustments involved in governing the Union Territory (UT) after forming the government.
“It took a little time to adjust. I thought it would be very difficult to understand and work in these circumstances. But the circumstances are what they are, and I think we started in the right way,” he remarked.
Omar said that he was not seeing himself as an empowered Chief Minister.
” How could I see myself as an empowered Chief Minister, if one of the first things I did was to remind the government to fulfill the promise of statehood? No Chief Minister of a UT is as empowered as a CM of a state that is a fact. There is no point living in denial,” he said.
The chief minister said that there was no pressure from the Prime Minister, Home Minister, or Raj Bhawan to change his stance or stand.
“The PM and HM have assured me that there won’t be any attempt to destabilize the government and people’s mandate has to be respected,” he said
On a recent protest led by ruling National Conference Member Parliament Rahullah Mehdi over the reservation issue, Omar said that it was a sign of democratic openness.
“The protest outside my gate reflects that we are not afraid of people or their concerns. It is their right to voice emotions, and we are here to listen,” Omar said, adding that such democratic practices were once unthinkable.
Speaking on the issue of reservation, Omar highlighted the establishment of a Cabinet Sub-Committee to address the matter.
He also stressed the need to prioritize safeguarding local jobs and land from external claims before addressing disputes between open and reserved categories
. “Whether open or reserved, the bigger danger is losing our jobs and land to outsiders,” he remarked.
Omar urged his MPs to lead similar protests during the upcoming Parliament session, calling for collaboration with other parties to demand the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
On the BJP’s claims that the Kashmir issue has been settled after the abrogation of Article 370 , Chief Minister Omar said the issue remains unresolved.
“If we assume for a minute that the Kashmir issue has been resolved forever. One part of Jammu and Kashmir is on the other side of the border. When the BJP says that the Kashmir issue has been resolved forever, do we believe that the issue of the other parts of Jammu and Kashmir has also been resolved? Obviously not. The Kashmir issue is still there. We can debate it on either side of the border. But the issue has not been resolved forever,” Omar said, adding they want the issue to be resolved.
On the pre-poll election promise of free electricity, Omar said they would be able to provide 200 units for free only if meters were installed.
“When we roll out this scheme in March or April, only those will benefit who have meters installed,” he said.
Omar stated that his government has fulfilled key commitments, including resolutions on statehood, reversing the academic calendar, and increasing public interaction.
