NC will support statehood resolution
Jammu: Chief Minister assured people that the National Conference-led government will fulfil all its poll promises including those related to prisoners and “arbitrary” termination of government employees.
He said his government is formed for a full five years, expressing hope that the next budget session of the assembly will be thrown open by the governor instead of the lieutenant governor. He said a lot was talked about the NC manifesto which “we have prepared with a lot of thought and is our promise to the people of J&K”.
“When we put forth our manifesto before the people we told them that give us five years…we assure the people that we will fulfil all the promises from A to Z, whether related to prisoners or termination of government employees. We are promise bound to do that,” the chief minister said.
In its manifesto, the National Conference had promised to prioritise the release of political prisoners and youth who have been “unjustly” detained in jails and are not involved in serious crimes besides seeking amnesty for all political prisoners.
The manifesto also talked about ending “unjust” termination of government employees and said “it will address and rectify cases of unjust job terminations, ensuring fair treatment and job security for all employees”.
Referring to the some members’ criticism of LG’s address, Abdullah said the LG cannot replace his earlier speech made in the November session shortly after the formation of the government and that it is in addition to that speech.
“Some (members) termed it as a love letter (from NC to BJP)…I do not go into it but want to make it clear that we made new additions and next year I hope that when we will meet (for budget session), there will be a Governor instead of Lt Governor,” he said.
Abdullah reaffirmed his party’s commitment to restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and said, “One of the members asked why we did not bring the restoration of statehood to the Assembly. Because we had no doubt that there is no party here, or no person, who does not want statehood. But there is a doubt that some people here are not in favor of it. Bring the resolution, and I am telling you today, we will talk about this and pass the resolution.”
