WAJAHAT SHABIR
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the Cabinet decision will be taken after his return from Delhi, where he is scheduled to attend the GST Council meeting, after consulting National Conference president Farooq Abdullah.
“I had said that we would do it after the Assembly session. The session has just concluded, and we could have done it in these days, but tomorrow there is a GST Council meeting in Delhi. So, I will return after completing that and then consult Farooq Sahib, and whatever needs to be done, we will do,” Omar said.
On the major transfer of IAS officers, Omar said the officers had been transferred by LG J&K after due consideration and that the government would work with them in their respective departments.
“Yes, they have definitely made these transfers after due consideration. Now, we will work together with the officers who have been posted in different departments,” he said.
On the pending rules of GMC, Omar said they were being given their final shape and that contradictions between the rules that had been framed and those that had been proposed were being resolved.
“Those contradictions are now being resolved,” he said. Omar said the government did not want to rush the process and risk an opposite outcome.
“So, even if it takes two or four more days, the entire process is being carried out properly. All the contradictions and conflicts are being removed, particularly those areas where we might not be able to implement the law in its true spirit,” he said. He added, “I believe these rules will be notified very soon.”
On the protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Omar referred to the arrests and detentions that took place the previous evening. Asked about claims that the matter was fabricated, Omar questioned why no action had been taken against the newspaper through which the reports had emerged.
“If it is fabricated, then why has no action been taken against the newspaper through which this entire matter came to light?” he said. Referring to The Indian Express, he said, “The Indian Express wrote what it wrote—was it correct or not? If it had not been correct, the government would at least have taken action against them or filed a defamation case. That has not happened.” Omar said the protests were linked to the INDIA bloc meeting held in Delhi a few days earlier.
“The meeting of the INDIA bloc held in Delhi a few days ago is the reason behind these protests. A calendar for the entire month was announced by Kharge Sahib before the media, and we are taking that programme forward,” he said. “But we have already been victims of such manipulation. We have not forgotten the delimitation exercise. The very purpose of that delimitation was to help the BJP, and the same thing could happen through SIR as well,” Omar said.
He, however, said he hoped the proceedings underway in the Supreme Court, particularly regarding Form 6, would make things difficult for those seeking to manipulate the process. “By that time, I hope the proceedings currently underway in the Supreme Court, particularly regarding Form 6, will make things somewhat difficult for those seeking to manipulate the process and help people come out of this manipulation,” he said.
On the completion of 25 years of PM Modi, Omar said it was not easy to win elections continuously for such a long period. “Something must have happened for people to have voted for him repeatedly. It is not easy to win elections continuously for 25 years in a state and then move on to the national level,” he said.
“Anyway, on my behalf and on behalf of my colleagues, I congratulate him,” Omar added.
Omar also spoke about the appointment of coaches and development of sports infrastructure. He said many coaches had received orders while the verification of some was still pending.
“Many of them have received orders, while some are still awaiting them. Their verification is pending, and as soon as their verification is completed, they will also be appointed. We are doing both things simultaneously,” he said.
Omar said coaches had earlier been appointed without adequate infrastructure. “Earlier, we appointed coaches, but there was no infrastructure, so there was little that could be done for these coaches. Our effort today is to develop the infrastructure alongside the appointment of coaches,” he said.
He said the government was also trying to move beyond traditional sports such as cricket, football and hockey and introduce children to new sports. Referring to the Olympic-size swimming pool, Omar said arrangements were being made to heat it through solar energy so that children could practise and train throughout the year.
He also said an indoor gymnastics hall had been inaugurated and that more sports would be added to provide children with “options and alternatives” and encourage their interest in new sports.
