SRINAGAR, Jan 2: On Thursday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that the hybrid governance model in the Union Territory is not beneficial to anyone, emphasizing that a single command center leads to more effective governance.
“Clearly, dual power centers do not serve anyone’s interests. If they were efficient governance tools, we’d see them in use universally,” Abdullah remarked during a media interaction regarding the hybrid governance model in Jammu and Kashmir.
The chief minister acknowledged that while there have been “differences of opinion on some matters,” there has been no significant confrontation with the Raj Bhavan.
“Governance operates more smoothly with a unified command structure. The dual command centers in the UT are inherent. Although there have been disagreements on certain topics, they are not as extensive as speculated. Such reports stem from mere imagination,” he explained.
Abdullah noted that the government would outline its business rules following thorough consultations before presenting them to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
He also expressed that he would not discourage people from visiting the Raj Bhavan if they seek to resolve their issues.
“I encourage individuals to pursue resolutions wherever possible, be it at the Raj Bhavan, with local MLAs, or through officials,” he added.
Addressing the protest led by his party MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi regarding reservation, Abdullah stressed that the National Conference (NC) operates democratically, allowing everyone to voice their opinions.
“The NC has often been labeled a family party, yet we maintain that we uphold democracy. Everyone has the right to express themselves. Consider how much has changed since protests were deemed illegal; people now approach me directly,” he stated, referring to the anti-reservation protest near his Gupkar residence that Mehdi participated in.
Regarding the reservation issue, the chief minister confirmed that a cabinet sub-committee has been established.
He also expressed hope that Mehdi, the Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar, would advocate for the restoration of statehood in Parliament.
However, Abdullah asserted that while they must address both reserved and open category issues, “first, we need to safeguard our jobs.”
“What happens if individuals from outside come here seeking employment?” he queried.
When asked about the controversy surrounding land acquisition for the National Institute of Technology (NIT) campus in Pulwama, the chief minister emphasized the necessity of balancing development with the preservation of arable land.
“We cannot expand our land base; development cannot stagnate. We will strive to prioritize non-productive lands for development projects as much as possible. I communicated with a Pulwama delegation, indicating that if they oppose the NIT in their area, we could relocate it elsewhere,” Abdullah said.
“Not everyone opposes development. There are alternative locations suitable for establishing this NIT. We must maintain a balance between progress and agricultural land preservation,” he continued.
On allegations regarding a proposed satellite colony, Abdullah clarified that there is currently no such proposal under their consideration.
“The loudest critics are often the same individuals who spoke of expanding Jammu and Srinagar,” he remarked.
Abdullah did mention, however, that townships will be developed to alleviate congestion in Srinagar.
“These townships are intended for those wishing to move to suburban areas. We have observed up to four or five families living in a single house in downtown Srinagar,” he concluded.
