Srinagar, March 3: Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, has stated that there are no plans for an alliance with the BJP, underscoring the party’s dedication to its own political agenda. “We are not discussing any alliance with the BJP; there is neither scope nor necessity. Our perspectives are vastly different, especially regarding Jammu and Kashmir… We will engage in discussions on various issues during the session,” he remarked.
Today, the Chief Minister also addressed the opening of the first Budget session in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
During his speech, Abdullah commended former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his significant contributions to India’s economic development and various welfare programs. He said, “Manmohan Singh ji was born in undivided India. He pursued education at Oxford and Cambridge, starting his career as an officer before becoming Finance Minister and then Prime Minister. When he took on the role of Finance Minister, the country was in an economic crisis. Today, we rank among the largest economies in the world. The private sector flourished as the license raj was dismantled. As Prime Minister, he launched initiatives like the Indira Awas Yojana and MGNREGA.”
He reminisced about Singh’s farewell press conference, sharing, “Manmohan, in his final press conference, stated, ‘History will judge me better than my contemporaries.’ He was respected by leaders around the globe.”
Abdullah also recounted a personal anecdote that illustrated Singh’s humility: “I once wrote to him regarding a matter, and during an interview, I mentioned the issue without referencing the letter. Later, he called me to discuss the protocol breach, and I assured him I hadn’t. After 15 minutes, he called back to apologize… As Prime Minister, he didn’t have to do that.”
He also noted the advancements made in resolving the Kashmir issue during the cooperation between former Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Singh.
Commenting on the infrastructure initiatives launched during Singh’s tenure, Abdullah highlighted, “Working groups were established, leading to job creation for Kashmiri Pandits, which enabled their return to Kashmir. The Jagti township was developed during his leadership, and he initiated the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway project. Currently, we await the Prime Minister’s inauguration of the train to Banihal, which was initiated under Manmohan Singh’s administration, he also started the construction of the world’s highest railway bridge.” (Agencies)
