NAVVNEET DUBEY
Jammu: Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday accused Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) of shedding crocodile tears for daily wagers. Omar Abdullah made these remarks after PDP member Waheed Para accused the government of allowing private members bill of NC member Tanvir Sadiq while opposing his bill of regularising services of daily wagers.
Omar said,” It appears the only aim of PDP members is to remain in news and they always mislead the house. Earlier while the house was condemning the attack on Dr Farooq Abdullah, the PDP then also linked the issue of accommodation to Mehbooba Mufti alleging that she was denied accommodation, while she is residing in official accommodation near Sakeena Itoo’s residence.”.
“The PDP accused the government of sponsored murder, which means they accused me of murdering her (Mehbooba Mufti) but I would like to make it clear that after 2019 the entitlement of houses of all the former CM’s was cancelled but still we gave her on sympathetic basis. If they wanted to upgrade the house as per the status they should have given an application, which the government hasn’t received yet,” Omar said.
The CM said that PDP wanted him to oppose the introduction of Tanvir Sadiq’s bill of restoring land grants so that they could have exploited it. “But by allowing its introduction, PDP has been left with no option to exploit it. On the issue of daily wagers, they have no love towards them and only want drama,” he added.
On the daily wagers bill, the CM said, “I oppose the bill but assure the House that the government will initiate the process of regularisation of daily wagers in the current financial year in a phased manner.” On Parra allegations about Gulmarg leases, Omar said, ” They(PDP) have no sympathy for people of Gulmarg or Kashmir or for the people”. Later on, the Speaker put to vote Parra’s bill but it was rejected by the House
Reiterating his government’s resolve to address the long-pending issue of regularisation of daily wagers, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the recommendations of a designated committee, which is expected soon, will be implemented.
He made the remarks while opposing a bill moved by CPI(M) legislator M Y Tarigami in the legislative Assembly.
The bill seeks regularisation of services of casual and other workers working in various government departments for decades.
“The government’s opposition is limited to the bill’s introduction and not to the sentiment behind it. There is a broad consensus on the need to regularise the workers who have served for years,” the chief minister said.
Abdullah said that during this session, he has repeatedly stated that they will begin the process of regularization of all these workers this year in a phased manner.
“I have stated this in the House: if we had gone back on our word, or if nine or ten months had passed since making that commitment and we had done nothing, then perhaps I would have agreed with Tarigami that we should accept this bill,” he said.
On March 19 last year, Abdullah announced the formation of a six-member committee headed by chief secretary to address the issue of regularisation of daily wagers and said that a roadmap will be prepared for presentation in the next budget session before the house.
Regularisation of thousands of daily wagers remains a major issue in Jammu and Kashmir, as a majority of these workers have been rendering services in various government departments for nearly three decades.
“Today is the first day of the financial year and I have committed that within this financial year, meaning from April 1 to March 31, 2027, we will act. If, on the very first day, I admit this bill and accept that we have done nothing and now need this bill for regularization, then my commitments made to this House—during the budget speech, the Lieutenant Governor’s address, and in responses to various questions—would become meaningless,” Abdullah said.
The chief minister said his government wants all those people, who have devoted the best years of their lives in service of the people, should be regularized in some way.
“We are awaiting the recommendations of the committee. As far as I know, the committee will complete its work soon. Once the recommendations come, we will implement them so that the assurance I have given to this House can be fulfilled,” he said.
Tarigami later withdrew his bill.
