Speaks to Nitin Gadkari; Slams PSA on Malik; seeking legal advice ahead of Statehood case’s scheduled hearing
WAJAHAT SHABIR
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday lashed out at the Centre Government over continued closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, saying if the authorities cannot keep it operational, it should be handed over to Union Territory.
Speaking to the media after a function in Srinagar, Omar said, “Had it up to me, I would have opened the highway now”.
Adding that he said, “If the Centre government cannot keep it operational, then let it hand it over to us. I will hand it over to the engineers and they will do the rest of the work.
Enough is enough, CM said.
Omar further told reporters that we exercised patience because every day we were told, ‘today it will open, today it will open,’ but it never did. Today, after finishing these two programs, I will call the Union Minister for Highways, Gadkari Sahib, and request him to immediately hand over this highway to us so it can be opened for traffic.
At the same time, I will also appeal to the Railway Minister that just one train is not enough. We are thankful that you have started a service, but please make it a regular affair. One symbolic run will not suffice. Whether it is fruit growers or other traders, they should have the option to send their goods by train if they wish, or by road if they prefer, Omar said.
Today, the inaugural run has taken place, and we are grateful for that, but this service must continue regularly until the highway is fully stabilized, he said.
Later in the evening, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had a conversation with Union Roadway Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Omar wrote on X, Just spoke to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari regarding the situation along NH 44 & the lack of connectivity with the rest of the country along this vital link. The frustration of fruit growers is understandable. They have been very patient for the first few days but watching their hard work rot because nhidcl is unable to stabilize the highway, their patience has worn thin & that is totally understandable. Some concrete steps will be taken within the next 24 hours to address this problem but I will wait for that to happen before I say any more about the proposed plan of action.
On the Waqf issue Omar said it is a very good thing. Earlier it was said that only people of one religion were being targeted, that only the institutions and properties of one religion were being brought under the scope of this law. It is good that the Supreme Court has also understood this.
This is a very important issue where the government’s allegation is that, legally, if someone has encroached on land, the government cannot take it back until it completes the entire due process. It is a good step, and if other such parts also come out one by one, that too will be a positive development, he said.
On Public Safety Act of MLA Mehraj Malik Omar said, “Truly, if there had been something worthy of PSA, then the court would not have granted him relief. The fact that he got relief from the court, in my opinion, means that whatever mistake he may have made, it was not something that justified his arrest under PSA”.
I feel the government should quietly accept its mistake without saying much and release him, as the court has directed. The police can continue with their inquiry and investigation. If, after the investigation, something is found, then they can place it before the court with confidence. But for now, given the court’s opinion, I think the PSA slapped on him should be withdrawn at the earliest and he should be released, he said.
On statehood case, Chief Minister said that he is consulting lawyers to explore whether a new strategy needs to be devised regarding the statehood case in the Supreme Court.
CM said he is seeking legal advice ahead of the case’s scheduled hearing in October.
“We will continue our fight for statehood. I am consulting lawyers because the case is set to come up for hearing before the Supreme Court in October. As of now, private parties are empanelled and pleading the case. I am discussing with lawyers whether there is a need for a different strategy,” he said.
The Chief Minister stressed that he has not given up on the issue of statehood.
“We have not stopped advocating for statehood. I am thankful to Sharad Pawar Sahab, who wrote a letter to the Prime Minister regarding his promise to restore statehood. I also wrote letters to leaders of all parties during the last Parliament session, urging them to support us,” he said, adding that he had personally hoped the Prime Minister would fulfill his promise on August 15, 2025.“But that didn’t happen,” Omar said.
