Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said there was no change in the National Conference’s plan to stage a protest in New Delhi on the opening day of Parliament’s monsoon session to press for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The National Conference recently announced that it would hold a demonstration in the national capital demanding the restoration of statehood. Abdullah had also urged constituents of the INDIA bloc to join the protest.
Speaking to reporters in the Valley, the Chief Minister said the party remained committed to the proposed programme.
“First of all, there is no change in that plan. We still have a strong intention to hold a protest on the first day of the monsoon session for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. The promise made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the Supreme Court, Parliament and various public forums must be honoured. We will go to Delhi to remind the Government of that commitment,” he said.
Referring to his recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Abdullah said statehood was among the issues discussed during the interaction.
“I spoke to the Prime Minister on various issues, including the restoration of statehood, the financial position of Jammu and Kashmir and measures to accelerate development in the Union Territory. I hope the people of Jammu and Kashmir will benefit from these discussions,” he said.
Responding to a question on the reservation review file, the Chief Minister said the matter would be resolved within a few days once the Cabinet completed the required formalities.
“We did what we had to do. The Cabinet Sub-Committee prepared its report and the Cabinet approved it. Like other Cabinet decisions, the report was sent to the Lieutenant Governor and was subsequently referred to the Centre,” he said.
Abdullah said the Central Government had sought certain clarifications and returned the file to the administration.
“The department has prepared responses to all the clarifications sought by the Centre. The exercise was completed two to three days ago. A Cabinet meeting will now be convened to approve the revised report, following which it will be sent back to the Central Government,” he said.
Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said he hoped the agreement to end the US-Iran war holds until the formal signing of the accord.
Official signing of the accord to permanently end the three-month-old confrontation in the Gulf region will be held in Switzerland on Friday.
“Neither you nor I know what is in that peace deal. Perhaps, the United States, Iran, and to some extent Pakistan know what is in it. We will have to wait till Friday,” Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of an event.
“We hope that this war stops for good and the Strait of Hormuz is opened. The injustice done to Iran — since they did not start the war — and the losses to their assets suffered in the strikes also need to be mentioned (in this deal),” he said.
The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising five eminent persons as trustees.
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Remembering Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia
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