Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Feb 24:
Making startling revelations, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary on Monday said that the treasuries were empty when Omar Abdullah took over as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
“When Omar Abdullah government took over the reins of Jammu and Kashmir, all the treasuries were empty,” Choudhary said in his address while speaking at an event organised to pay tributes to former General Secretary of the National Conference Sheikh Nazir Ahmad on his tenth death anniversary.
National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah was also present on the occasion.
He however, also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfill the promises made to Jammu and Kashmir including restoration of statehood.
Choudhary further said, “National Conference is a party that has got worldwide recognition and our leaders have strengthened Jammu and Kashmir and the country.”
“Jammu and Kashmir is a “state” that witnessed terrorism and also the partition of the country. We have also seen firing on the borders,” the JK Deputy CM said, adding, “Our leaders are trying to ensure that Jammu and Kashmir becomes strong to strengthen India’s democracy and its constitution.”
“We have many challenges to face because the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir is now the Union Territory,” he said and added that “earlier when NC headed the government the treasuries were full but this time we found them empty on taking over the regime.”
Choudhary said, “since Omar Abdullah took over as Chief Minister, we have been trying to unite Jammu and Kashmir. Ladakh is also our brother despite it being separated from us. We live in each other’s hearts and even today, we are as strong as we were before 2019 (Abrogation of Article 370).”
“We have to follow the path of our leaders and strengthen the party, Jammu and Kashmir and the nation,” the NC leader said.
Later speaking to reporters outside the party office, the Deputy CM appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to collectively fight against drug abuse and the rising incidents of crime.
He also lashed out at the People’s Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti and her daughter Iltija Mufti for making irrelevant statements and first put their own house straight.
