Atiya Mujeeb
SRINAGAR, May 08: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday accused the BJP of resorting to “blackmail politics” over the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. He said the cabinet expansion was being delayed because the Union Territory had not yet been granted statehood, and not due to any internal issues within the ruling National Conference.
Responding to remarks made by the Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly, Abdullah rejected claims of divisions within his party and maintained that the National Conference leadership and legislators were united.
“There is no Eknath Shinde in the National Conference. All our MLAs stand together,” he told reporters in Srinagar.
The Chief Minister also took a swipe at the opposition, remarking that the Leader of Opposition appeared impatient to become a minister in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking on the delimitation exercise conducted in the Union Territory, Abdullah alleged that the process was carried out to politically benefit the BJP and its allies.
“We have gone through their delimitation process and know what it was meant for. It was done only to favour the BJP and its friends,” he said.
Clarifying the delay in cabinet expansion, Abdullah said the matter remained pending solely because Jammu and Kashmir had not regained full statehood.
“The cabinet expansion has been delayed because statehood has not been restored, not because there is any fear or instability in the government,” he added.
Abdullah further accused the BJP of attempting to obstruct the functioning of the elected government and alleged that the party was unwilling to allow smooth governance unless it came to power in Jammu and Kashmir.
He claimed that the people of the Union Territory were being pressured in the name of statehood and urged the public to remember the BJP’s stand on the issue.
Referring to constitutional norms and Supreme Court observations on government formation, Abdullah said the single largest party should always be given an opportunity to form the government and prove its majority on the floor of the Assembly.
“If any party is able to prove its majority in the Assembly, it has the right to remain in power. If it fails to do so, it must step down,” he said.
