Centre failed to restore 300-metre highway stretch in 20 days: CM Omar
Srinagar, Sep 15: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday expressed displeasure over the delay in restoration of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and said that had the highway been under the control of the elected government, it would have been restored by now.
Talking to reporters here, CM Omar said the highway was being managed and maintained by the Government of India (GoI). “But if they cannot manage it, they should hand it over to us. We have engineers sitting in our offices here, and I will deploy a team of them to the spot to restore the highway. Enough is enough. We have been patient because every day they (Centre) kept saying the work would be completed today, but it never happened,” he said.
The CM said that he would write to the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, to hand over the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway to the elected government so that it could be restored and fruit-laden trucks could ferry the fruit.
“At the same time, I will request the Railway Minister that running just one train is not enough. We are thankful to him for starting one train, but it should be made a regular service,” he said.
CM Omar said that making parcel trains a regular feature would benefit fruit growers and other traders who prefer sending their goods by train.
“Today, one train was ceremonially flagged off, but one train will not solve the problem. It should run regularly until the highway is restored,” he said.
A 300-metre-long, muddy stretch situated in Tharad and Balli Nallah in Udhampur district witnessed landslides, due to which the highway is closed for vehicular movement for more than two weeks.
As the highway blockade continues, the fruit growers are protesting against the government for its failure “to restore a small stretch in 20 days.”
Later in the evening, CM Omar posted on his official X handle about his conversation with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.
“Just spoke to Union Minister @MORTHIndia @nitin_gadkari Sb regarding the situation along NH 44 & the lack of connectivity with the rest of the country along this vital link. The frustration of fruit growers is understandable. They have been very patient for the first few days, but watching their hard work rot because @nhidcl is unable to stabilise the highway, their patience has worn thin & that is totally understandable. Some concrete steps will be taken within the next 24 hours to address this problem, but I will wait for that to happen before I say any more about the proposed plan of action,” he wrote on X.
Meanwhile, referring to the decision regarding the detention of MLA Doda, Mehraj Malik, the CM said that the relief provided by the court makes it clear that the mistakes made by MLA Doda did not amount to an offence that justified detention under PSA.
The High Court has restrained the Police from filing a charge-sheet against Malik, while permitting the investigation to proceed. The case invokes Section 356(2) (assault with intent to dishonour), Section 79 (obstructing a public servant), and Section 351(2) (use of force to deter a public servant).
“If he had done anything warranting PSA, he would not have been granted relief from the court. I believe the other part of the government should accept its mistake and release Malik,” CM Omar said.
He said that the Police should continue their inquiry and investigation into the case.
“If something is established after investigations, then they can place it before the court with confidence. But for now, given the court’s observations, I think the PSA registered against MLA Doda should be withdrawn, and he should be released,” the CM said.
About the Supreme Court’s refusal to stay the Waqf Act, he said that only one community was being targeted under this bill, and the institutions belonging to a single community were brought under the purview of this law.
“It is a good thing that the Supreme Court has taken note of this,” he said. CM Omar said that he was consulting lawyers to explore whether a new strategy needs to be devised regarding the statehood case in the Supreme Court.
He said he was seeking legal advice ahead of the case’s scheduled hearing in October.
“We will continue our fight for statehood. I am consulting lawyers because the case is set to come up for hearing before the Supreme Court in October. As of now, private parties are empanelled and pleading the case. I am discussing with lawyers whether there is a need for a different strategy,” the CM said. He said that he had not given up on the issue of statehood. “We have not stopped advocating for statehood. I am thankful to Sharad Pawar Sahab, who wrote a letter to the Prime Minister regarding his promise to restore statehood. I also wrote letters to leaders of all parties during the last Parliament session, urging them to support us,” CM Omar said. “I personally hoped that the Prime Minister would fulfill his promise of August 15, 2025, but that didn’t happen.”
