WAJAHAT SHABIR
SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the list for the proposed expansion of the Council of Ministers had been finalised after consultations with National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, asking party colleagues aspiring for ministerial positions to remain patient and stop approaching leaders with requests.
Chief Minister made these remarks after having a brief meeting with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Lok Bhawan, Srinagar.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Omar said he met the Lieutenant Governor after the latter returned to Srinagar following a brief period of ill health. He said he wanted to enquire about the LG’s health and discuss several issues on which their interaction and the Lieutenant Governor’s opinion were required.
“I sought time from him for the expansion and requested him to schedule it during the first two to three days of next week. I will bring about some changes and an expansion in my Council of Ministers,” Omar said. The Chief Minister said the list of ministers had already been prepared after consultations with Farooq Abdullah, adding that there was no need for MLA’s to approach him, the National Conference president or other leaders to seek ministerial berths.
“The list has been prepared after consultation with Farooq Sahib. There is no need to knock on Farooq Sahib’s door, my door or anyone else’s door. The decision about who will become a minister has already been taken,” he said. Appealing to his party colleagues to exercise patience, Omar said the final decision on ministerial positions had been taken and the expansion was expected within the next two to three days.
“Those who are destined to become ministers will become ministers. First, Allah has to decide, and then we will,” he said. The Chief Minister also expressed displeasure over the volume of messages and calls he had been receiving from people seeking ministerial positions. He said several aspirants were sending lengthy WhatsApp messages and detailed biodata despite the fact that he already knew them.
“I am receiving so many WhatsApp messages. People are writing entire books and sending their biodata as if I do not know them. I know them, and I know their profiles,” Omar said. He urged party colleagues not to send him WhatsApp messages, make repeated phone calls or visit leaders to lobby for ministerial positions, reiterating that the decision had already been taken and the process would be completed within the next two to three days.
Omar Abdullah also said the Jammu and Kashmir government may release funds from its own budget to facilitate the return of pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia due to flight cancellations and a sharp increase in airfares. He said the issue was not limited to pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir, as people from several states across the country were also stranded in Saudi Arabia following flight cancellations.
The Chief Minister said the government was taking up the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs to find a solution and ensure that those affected could return home. “The problem is that ticket prices have increased significantly, making it difficult for those stranded there to book fresh tickets, particularly those who had originally booked their travel through budget airlines,” he said. Omar said he would discuss the matter with the External Affairs Minister and explore possible arrangements to facilitate the return of the stranded pilgrims.
“If the Ministry of External Affairs does not have the budget to bring them back or provide assistance with their tickets, we may release some money from our own budget and work towards bringing our people back,” he said. On the issue of the China border, Omar said that parts of the border with China had touched the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, but following the reorganisation of the state, the matter no longer fell within his purview.
“The China border used to touch our state at certain places. After the state was divided, this is no longer my issue. You should either ask the Lieutenant Governor or the Central Government about it. I have nothing to do with it,” he said. Responding to a question about the BJP’s remarks that he was not interested in certain issues, the Chief Minister said he had already clarified that his meeting with the Lieutenant Governor was about the proposed cabinet reshuffle.
He said the discussion had centred on the expansion of the Council of Ministers and urged reporters to leave the matter there, reiterating that the process was expected to be completed within the next two to three days.
Congress to stay out of cabinet over statehood
Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Congress on Saturday reiterated its demand for the restoration of full statehood, making it clear that the party would continue to stay out of the Omar Abdullah-led Cabinet until its concerns over statehood and constitutional safeguards were addressed.
J&K Congress working president Raman Bhalla said the party remained firm on its position that the restoration of full statehood was essential to ensuring justice for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and protecting their land, jobs and natural resources.
“The Congress has always maintained that the people of Jammu and Kashmir must get back their full-fledged statehood,” Bhalla said, reiterating the party’s long-standing position on the issue.
He stressed the need for safeguards to protect the employment opportunities for the local youth, land rights and the region’s resources, saying these concerns remained central to the Congress’ political position.
“We need a full-fledged state, headed by a governor, with a single power centre rather than a dual power structure,” Bhalla said, adding that further decisions concerning the region should be taken after the restoration of statehood.
He maintained that the Congress had not deviated from its position and remained committed to securing the rights and safeguards of the people.
The Congress’ decision to stay out of the Omar Abdullah-led Cabinet has been linked to the delay in restoring full statehood to J&K.
Despite the National Conference (NC) and the Congress securing a comfortable majority in the Assembly following the 2024 elections, the NC formed the government while the Congress chose to extend support from outside rather than join the Council of Ministers.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the Cabinet would be expanded and reshuffled next week.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at the Lok Bhawan, Abdullah said he had requested time from the former to carry out the exercise.
“Yes, it certainly was discussed. I requested time from him for the expansion and told him that in the first two to three days of next week, I will carry out the expansion and make certain changes in my Council of Ministers,” Abdullah said.
