CM Omar 2.0 @ 1: Of 12 major promises, 1 fulfilled

Srinagar, Oct 14: As Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s government completes its first year in office on Thursday, his National Conference (NC) finds itself under growing scrutiny for what critics are calling a “year of inaction.”

The party’s 2024 election manifesto, ‘Dignity, Identity, and Development,’ had raised high hopes across Jammu and Kashmir and shaped the party’s comeback.

A year later, just one of the 12 flagship promises made on Page 10 of NC’s manifesto has translated into measurable progress, leaving the public disillusioned and the administration struggling to defend its record.

While promises made in the manifestoes are meant to be fulfilled during the entire term in office, how a government fares in the first year suggests the direction it takes towards fulfilling its promises.

The NC’s most ambitious pledge of restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s pre-August 5, 2019, status, including Articles 370 and Article 35A, and full statehood, remains unrealised.

The government had promised to bring a legislative resolution to challenge the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35-A, which remains the only point the party has fulfilled in one year.

Apart from periodic statements, political analysts say there has been “no concrete policy action” on the issue that formed the emotional core of NC’s campaign.

Promises to repeal the Public Safety Act (PSA), release political prisoners, and facilitate the dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits continue to remain only promises.

Detentions under PSA not only continue but have even been taken a step further with the arrest of a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Mehraj Malik.

Rehabilitation plans are yet to begin, and civic groups allege that bureaucratic red tape still dominates governance.

Civil society activists argue that “normalcy remains more slogan than reality.”

Among the NC’s most publicised commitments was the creation of 1 lakh jobs within six months.

A proposed Youth Employment Generation Act was supposed to anchor that effort.

A year later, no jobs exist.

In J&K, unemployment continues to be alarmingly high, while recruitment processes are plagued by delays and controversies.

This has deepened frustration among the young voters, most of whom had rallied behind NC.

The promise of providing 200 units of free electricity and free drinking water for every household has not materialised, while both the Kashmir and Jammu divisions continue to face routine power cuts and erratic water supply.

Business unit operators complain that high tariffs have crippled the revival of their businesses.

This is undermining the manifesto’s promise of “economic dignity.”

NC had vowed financial relief for low-income households, including Rs 5000 monthly support for women heads, free LPG cylinders, and enhanced pensions.

None of these have been implemented.

Officials cite “financial constraints,” but critics say it reflects poor fiscal planning and a lack of political will.

Programmes for women’s welfare, other than token free rides for women in smart buses, have also failed to move beyond announcements.

The Public Distribution System (PDS) remains under strain.

The promise to increase free rice to 10 kg per person per month to every household has not been kept while reports of ration shortages and irregular supply continue from rural and hilly districts.

Healthcare and education, the two sectors central to NC’s 2024 vision, show little improvement.

The proposed Village and Mohalla Clinics are yet to take shape, the Rs 5 lakh health insurance scheme is still pending, and hospitals struggle with staff and equipment shortages.

Similarly, plans for free education up to university level, new higher education centers, and skill universities remain stalled.

The government’s promise to grant industry status to tourism and boost adventure circuits across Pir Panjal and Chenab remains unfulfilled.

Locals in these regions say infrastructure projects are incomplete.

The incentives for hotel and houseboat owners, too, have not been released.

In agriculture, apple and saffron growers accuse the administration of neglect.

The NC had pledged to protect the apple industry, exempt horticultural produce from GST, and establish fruit preservation parks, but none of these have materialised.

The War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, which the government promised to implement in full, has barely moved.

With no new rehabilitation centers and a steady rise in substance abuse cases, especially among youth, experts warn that the issue could become “a social crisis in the making.”

Master plans for expanding Srinagar and Jammu through new townships and river transport systems remain on paper.

The Smart City projects, touted as NC’s urban revival mission, continue to attract public criticism for poor execution and substandard infrastructure.

Political commentators say Omar Abdullah’s first year in power has been marked more by promises than performance.

“The NC government has not advanced even an inch on its manifesto. Every major pledge has stalled at the planning stage,” said a political observer.

Opposition parties, including the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accuse the government of betraying public faith and failing to provide accountability.

Senior PDP leader and former minister, Naeem Akhtar, said that the NC-led government was doing exactly the opposite of what people elected them for.

“Post elections, Farooq Abdullah Sahab should have regrouped the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) that he broke. He should have taken everyone along and fought for the restoration of Article 370, Article 35-A, and statehood,” he said. “Instead, what they are indulging in is not just surrender but heartbreak for the people.”

Akhtar said NC had stopped being a political party and was behaving as a department.

“It is now behaving as an employment structure for Sheikh (Muhammad Abdullah) Sahab’s family – for protocols and cars - and disinheriting itself of the political legacy of Sheikh Sahab,” he said. “Farooq (Abdullah) Sahab should have assumed the role of a statesman and led the disenchanted people of Jammu and the people of Ladakh, along with the people of Kashmir, through the constitutionally mandated platforms.”

Akhtar said that if NC fails to deliver, politics in J&K could get delegitimised as the Opposition too is supporting the NC government to be the voice of the people, but the government was a “huge letdown”.

People’s Conference (PC) President and former minister Sajad Lone said that the NC government deserves the credit for humour.

“When Omar (Abdullah) Sahab was asked about his promise of generating 1 lakh jobs within the first six months of his government, he said they had not promised government jobs but private jobs,” he said. “I would like him to tell us since when is the government responsible for providing jobs in private companies. It is a black comedy.”

Lone said that while the CM blames the dual structure for the government’s helplessness, what stopped him from providing 200 units of free power and 12 free LPG cylinders to the people.

He said that the resolution that NC brought in the Legislative Assembly did not even mention restoration of Article 370 and Article 35-A, but special status, although they were clear in mentioning Article 370 and Article 35-A in their manifesto.

Apni Party President and former minister, Altaf Bukhari, said the NC-led government failed 100 percent on fulfilling the promises they made to the people.

“The government is directionless on political issues and is just resorting to emotional quotient,” he said. “The Lieutenant Governor’s administration might not have delivered on emotional issues, but delivered better on developmental issues than this government.”

Bharatiya Janata Party J&K General Secretary (Organisation), Ashok Kaul, said that while they did not blame the NC government for the Pahalgam attack as they were not responsible for law and order, what stopped them from fulfilling the promises of providing free 1 lakh jobs in the first six months, 12 free LPG cylinders, 10 kg ration per month, 200 units of free power and rest of the stuff they promised.

“They failed to deliver on all fronts,” he said.

Even within the NC, murmurs of unease are growing over the leadership’s inability to convert intent into impact.

NC’s Member of Parliament (MP) from Srinagar-Budgam parliamentary constituency, Aga Syed Ruhullah, said the CM Omar Abdullah-led government had “failed on the political front”.

“The government is about to complete a year in office. Whatever was needed to be done on the political front has not happened. There was a need to show intent, but I personally feel that has not been shown till now,” Ruhullah said. “The government must work to satisfy the people. If people are satisfied, I am satisfied. If people ask questions, those should be heard seriously. They should ponder where the lacunae are.”

As CM Omar’s administration marks one year in office, the NC’s 2024 manifesto stands as a ledger of missed opportunities.

From restoring political dignity to improving daily life, just one of its 12 “guarantees” has seen fruition.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, NC chief spokesman and MLA Zadibal, Tanvir Sadiq said, “We began our journey in the government by restoring what matters most, the voice and dignity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. In the very first session of the Assembly, we passed a historic resolution seeking the restoration of J&K’s special status, reaffirming our constitutional identity and political will. It has not been rejected. The mention of statehood restoration in the Lieutenant Governor’s address, and the first cabinet resolution on statehood presented to the country’s leadership, including the Prime Minister, are clear markers of intent and direction.”

He said that no government could fulfill every promise in its first year of a five-year mandate, but what distinguishes them was their clarity of purpose and visible progress.

“From providing 200 units of free electricity and 10 kg of rice for AAY families, to free bus travel for women across the Union Territory, Rs 75,000 assistance for girls at marriage, changing the school calendar to benefit students and parents and a one-time amnesty on pending electricity bills, are few of many decision this government took, these are not slogans, they are beginning of many steps that touch lives on the ground,” Sadiq said.

He said that the government faced genuine challenges, operating under a “dual power centre” where even elected MLAs had to wait months for their Constituency Development Funds.

“Yet, we have pushed through institutional inertia and delivered. Our ministers have been on the ground, the CM personally monitors every crisis, and whether it was the snowfall, the Pahalgam attack, or the floods, the government acted swiftly and decisively. The enhancement of CDF from Rs 3 crore to Rs 4 crore and budgetary support for the apple industry, agriculture, social welfare, health, education, Road and Building, PHE, and sports, to name a few, further reflect our commitment to inclusive growth,” Sadiq said. “If I were to rate our performance, I’d say we have fulfilled the promise of intent and direction. We have restored faith in governance, accountability, and responsiveness. The first year was about rebuilding trust and systems. The next four will be about consolidation, delivery, and complete restoration of statehood so we can realise our vision in full. We haven’t just made promises, we’ve made a start, made a difference, and set the tone for the Jammu and Kashmir we envisioned.”

Listing the achievements of the NC-led government, NC Kashmir province spokesman, Imran Nabi, told Greater Kashmir that within the first 10 months, the government ensured the passage of a resolution on the special status in the Legislative Assembly.

“Statehood resolution was passed by cabinet, the subcommittee on reservation is in process, marriage assistance to girls has been enhanced, the women were provided free bus service, the education session was restored back to October-November, free ration and electricity is being provided to AAY, EWS families, vacant posts are being referred to PSC, age relaxation was given to candidates appearing for competitive exams, there is no stamp duty on the transfer of property within blood relations, and smart bus service has been extended to many districts,” he said.

However, with public patience wearing thin and credibility at stake, CM Omar faces a crucial test of whether his second year in power will be a turning point or a continuation of unfulfilled promises.