SrinagarConcedes adjournment motion on Waqf Act, misplaced action by NC members: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said he was hopeful that statehood will be restored to Jammu and Kashmir very soon and the “appropriate time has come”.
He was speaking to reporters after inaugurating a bridge in Pulwama district.
Underscoring the importance of statehood, the Chief Minister said, “Statehood is not our destination but a prerequisite to start the process of reclaiming what the people have lost in the last six to seven years,” adding that the people’s mandate was for restoring their dignity and protecting their identity.
“We think the appropriate time has come, six months have passed since the assembly elections. (Union Home Minister Amit) Shah came here, I had a separate meeting with him, a good one … I am still hopeful that J&K will soon get its statehood back,” Abdullah said.
On the opposition’s charge that the ruling party scuttled the discussion on Waqf Amendment Act, he said the adjournment motion could not have been admitted as the bill was passed by Parliament.
“The Speaker made everything clear on the last day. Perhaps, the mistake by the members was that they brought an adjournment motion. An adjournment motion is only brought to discuss the works of the J&K government because the government has to respond.
“Tell me had that adjournment motion been accepted, how would we have responded as the Waqf Bill was not brought by us. It was passed by the Centre in the Parliament,” he said.
Abdullah said a resolution under different rules in the Assembly might have been admitted.
“However, that has passed now. Many parties, including the National Conference, have moved to the Supreme Court and put forth their views before the apex court. Now, we will see what the SC says,” he added.
Commenting on the inauguration of the bridge, Abdullah said it was unfortunate that the bridge connecting Chrar-e-Sharief to south Kashmir took 11 years to rebuild after being washed away in the 2014 floods.
“It is unfortunate that this took a long time to rebuild. This bridge was washed away in the 2104 floods and it has taken 11 years to rebuild it. I think this bridge was destined to be thrown open by us only. This bridge plays an important role in connecting south Kashmir with Chrar-e-Sharief,” he said.
The bridge, constructed at a cost of Rs 25.97 crore by the Public Works (Roads and Buildings) Department under the World Bank-funded Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP), connects over 80,000 residents of several villages, including Rahmoo, Mitrigam, Pakherpora, Zagigam, Putrigam, Tujan, Mirgund, Thokerpora, Tilsar, Char-e-Sharief, Yusmarg, Kamrazipora and adjoining areas of Pulwama district, an official press release informed.
Addressing a public gathering on the occasion, the Chief Minister reaffirmed his government’s commitment: “We will leave no stone unturned in fulfilling the promises and commitments made to the people during elections.”
He also highlighted various initiatives and welfare measures undertaken during the last six months of his government.
