Jammu, Feb 24: In a significant revelation, Jammu and Kashmir’s Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary stated on Monday that all treasuries were depleted when Omar Abdullah assumed the role of Chief Minister. Addressing an event to commemorate the tenth death anniversary of former National Conference General Secretary Sheikh Nazir Ahmad, Choudhary remarked, “When the Omar Abdullah government began its term, all treasuries were empty.” National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah was also in attendance.
Choudhary urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to honor his commitments to Jammu and Kashmir, including the restoration of statehood.
He further asserted, “The National Conference is a globally recognized party, and our leaders have played a crucial role in strengthening both Jammu and Kashmir and India.”
Describing Jammu and Kashmir as a “state” that has endured terrorism and the partition of the country, he mentioned ongoing border conflicts, emphasizing the need to make the region strong to bolster India’s democracy and constitutional principles.
“We face numerous challenges, as Jammu and Kashmir is now a Union Territory,” Choudhary stated, adding that, “While the treasuries were full under the previous National Conference government, they were found empty when we took over.”
He expressed the importance of unity, mentioning that despite Ladakh being separate, it is still considered a brotherly region. “We share a bond that remains strong even after 2019 (the abrogation of Article 370),” he noted.
Choudhary called on party members to follow the trailblazers of the past to reinforce the party, Jammu and Kashmir, and the nation. Speaking to reporters afterward, he urged the people of Jammu and Kashmir to unite against drug abuse and the rising crime rates, while criticizing People’s Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti and her daughter Iltija Mufti for making irrelevant statements and advising them to rectify their own issues first.
