Srinagar, Feb 24: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his enthusiasm on Monday for participating in the anti-obesity campaign initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Abdullah also put forth the names of 10 individuals to join this crucial initiative.
“I’m thrilled to take part in the campaign against obesity launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji,” he stated in a message on X.
“Obesity is associated with numerous health issues related to lifestyle, such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, strokes, and respiratory problems, in addition to mental health challenges like anxiety and depression. Today, I nominate these 10 individuals to join the Prime Minister’s campaign against obesity, and I encourage each of them to nominate another 10 to continue this battle,” he added.
Among the figures nominated by Abdullah are Biocon Limited founder Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, businessman Sajjan Jindal, actress Deepika Padukone, former tennis star Sania Mirza, former cricketer Irfan Pathan, NCP MP Supriya Sule, and former Wushu champion Kuldeep Handoo.
In a strong appeal for tackling obesity, Modi, in his “Mann ki Baat” broadcast on Sunday, urged citizens to reduce their oil consumption in food and to challenge 10 others to do the same.
Abdullah later informed reporters that Modi initiated this campaign to promote awareness.
“The Prime Minister nominated me through a tweet (X post), prompting me to nominate an additional 10 people. This initiative aims to spread awareness. The better we care for our health, the more efficiently we can work, which in turn benefits our children’s education, reduces pressure on hospitals, and enhances our life expectancy,” he remarked.
The National Conference vice-president emphasized the importance of striving for good health.
“Obesity is a lifestyle-related disease that is on the rise, but with precautions, exercise, and a healthy diet, it can be managed,” he added.
When asked about fulfilling his election promises, Abdullah stated that people had granted him a five-year mandate, not just five days.
“We haven’t even introduced our first budget yet. Please wait; we are mindful of our commitments and how to implement them. From day one, I have maintained that we will achieve our goals under the Union Territory framework,” he explained.
“I advocate for statehood because I recognize that numerous issues causing public suffering cannot be effectively addressed in a Union Territory setup. Achieving state status is vital for resolution,” he further stated.
The Chief Minister emphasized that his government would work simultaneously on both fronts. “We will accomplish what we can within the Union Territory while pursuing those needs that require statehood,” he affirmed, though he refrained from commenting on the first budget of his government.
“It would be inappropriate to speak on the budget now; the government must first present it in the assembly. Therefore, I will hold off on any statements regarding it,” he noted.
When asked about concerns regarding water scarcity due to insufficient rainfall and snowfall during winter, Abdullah acknowledged the apprehension.
“We are facing a rainfall deficit of roughly 80%. Limited precipitation can lead to water shortages in the summer. Therefore, I have recommended that we prepare for the summer months, as water shortages could arise not only for agricultural purposes but for household use as well,” he mentioned.
Abdullah urged the public to modify their water usage habits.
“The government needs to implement strategies like rainwater harvesting and glacier conservation. We will collaborate with the agriculture and Jal Shakti departments to develop plans for providing irrigation water to farmers,” he concluded.
