In his first press interaction as chief minister, Omar Abdullah addressed various pressing issues, including governance challenges, land concerns, media freedom, and the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood. He stressed the problems of the dual power structure between Raj Bhawan and the elected government and underscored the importance of fulfilling promises made to the people about restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
"To deliver fully on promises, restoring statehood is important, Abdullah said. “Dual systems of power are not useful; authority must rest with a single person for systems to function efficiently.”
Restoration statehood
Abdullah reiterated the importance of restoring Jammu and Kashmir's statehood, calling it essential for fulfilling public aspirations. "The Supreme Court has said it should happen as soon as possible; one year is enough. People voted with fervour, and now they deserve tangible results," he said.
"The big responsibility now is to meet the people’s aspirations. Some commitments need changes in status,” he said. “But we are working on them. People voted in hope, and it is our duty to ensure they see results,” Abdullah added.
Governance and dual power structure
Reflecting on the governance structure, Abdullah admitted the challenges of navigating the roles of the Raj Bhawan and the elected government. "It has been more than two months, and understanding how a Union Territory government acts is a new experience. We are trying to comprehend the responsibilities of the Raj Bhawan and the elected government," he said.
He said the people should go wherever their grievances are redressed —be it the Raj Bhawan or the elected government. “I am nobody to say they shouldn’t approach the Raj Bhawan,” he said.
On controversies like the appointment of the Advocate General (AG) and declaring Sheikh Abdullah's birthday a holiday, the CM said some of these issues are figments of imagination. “Sheikh Abdullah’s legacy is vast —every time a farmer tills his land or a child goes to school, it’s part of his legacy,” he said.
Abdullah also expressed concern over the state of media freedom, asserting the need for a free and fair press. "My wish is to see a media free from pulls and pressures. This interaction itself is a step in that direction," he said.
Development and land concerns
On allegations of land being taken away for satellite colonies, Abdullah reassured the public that development would prioritise non-productive lands. "I understand people's concerns—this is the land that Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah gave to the people,” he said. “But, development cannot be stopped. We are focusing on non-productive lands like roads and railways.“
He said alternative sites will be explored if people of a particular area object. Abdullah added that an MLA had expressed willingness to allocate land in his constituency, reiterating the importance of public consent.
Protests and local rights
Responding to student protests and concerns over local jobs, Abdullah defended democratic rights while stressing the importance of protecting local resources. "Democracy allows protests. Students protested outside my house and I assured them we’d address their issues within six months through a subcommittee and court interventions," he said. On local job reservations, he said they will fight to “protect our land and jobs". "This fight is crucial for our identity and future,” the chief minister said.
Article 370 and PoK
Responding to the BJP's claims that the abrogation of Article 370 had settled the Kashmir issue, Abdullah countered, "The BJP says the issue is settled, but what about PoK? Has that issue been settled?"
Power shortages and load shedding
Addressing power shortages, Abdullah outlined his government’s strategy to improve energy management. "We hope that the power we generate in summer will be returned to us in winter. Our losses are huge, and we need to reduce them. Unscheduled power cuts are often due to maintenance and we are trying to fix them as soon as possible," he said.
Fulfilling poll promises
On fulfilling the government’s manifesto, Abdullah said, "We have fulfilled resolutions on statehood, reversed the academic calendar, and enhanced public interaction. A report card will be shared after 100 days. Some promises, like statehood, require more time.
