SRINAGAR, Jan 2: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed optimism on Thursday regarding the Union Territory status of Jammu and Kashmir, believing it to be a temporary situation and hoping that the central government will honor its commitment to reinstate statehood.
Join Daily Excelsior on WhatsApp for the Latest News
“It has been just over two months since we assumed office. It required time for us to comprehend the functioning of the UT government. While we have prior experience with the government, there is a significant difference between the two forms,” Abdullah stated during a media session at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) here.
The chief minister described the initiation of the new government as “decent” and mentioned they “did not face significant challenges” during this transition.
“We are committed to our electoral promises. We have begun the process of fulfilling some of these promises, while others necessitate systemic changes. I remain hopeful that the status of J-K as a UT is a temporary condition,” Abdullah conveyed.
“The populace is now looking forward to the promises made to us being realized. The foremost promise is the restoration of statehood. The Supreme Court, in its ruling, also indicated that statehood should be reinstated promptly. A year has elapsed, and we believe that a year is sufficient,” he remarked.
Abdullah emphasized the importance of respecting public sentiment and fulfilling their aspirations.
When speaking with reporters, the chief minister referred to the gathering as an interaction rather than a press conference.
“We are not making any major announcements as speculated on social media. Our intention is to engage in a conversation. We aim to address your inquiries,” he elaborated.
“I would like to conduct this type of interaction without specific agendas at least biannually,” he added.
