CM Omar Abdullah likely to meet Home Minister today, Fin Min tomorrow

Srinagar, Dec 19: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is likely to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi this evening to discuss key issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir.

Sources told news gathering agency KINS that the Chief Minister is expected to discuss key issues with the Home Minister, ‘including Jammu and Kashmir's financial requirements, and the demand for restoring statehood’.

Talking to reporters on the sideline of the 18th Annual Tourism Summit 2024, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Delhi, Omar Abdullah yesterday remarked, “There are a lot of issues on which I need to talk with the Home Minister. Currently, J&K is a Union Territory, and we are expecting statehood. The Home Minister has a pivotal role in this regard.”

Meanwhile sources claimed that the Chief Minister is also scheduled to meet Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tomorrow in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

He is expected to attend a conference of State and Union Territory representatives, where he will advocate for sufficient financial grants for Jammu and Kashmir in the next fiscal year.

Jammu and Kashmir’s current budget for 2024-25 stands at 1,18,390 crore, slightly lower than the 1,18,500 crore allocated in 2023-24. During the financial year of 2022-23, the UT’s budget was to the tune of Rs 1,12,950 crore.

In the Union Budget for 2024-25, the Centre allocated 42,277.74 crore to Jammu and Kashmir, marking a 1.2% increase from the previous fiscal year’s 41,751.44 crore. An additional 9,789.42 crore was set aside for the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Given the region’s reliance on central government resources, the Union Budget holds significant importance for Jammu and Kashmir’s development.

The next budget is expected to be presented in the Jammu and Kashmir’s Legislative Assembly by late January or early February 2024.