Dy CM requests Home Minister, Centre to restore statehood

Rajouri, Oct 19: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary Saturday requested the Centre and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a public rally in his native Nowshera area of Rajouri district in Pir Panjal region, during his maiden visit to the assembly constituency from where he was elected to the Legislative Assembly after assuming charge as Deputy Chief Minister, he made this appeal to the Centre and the Union Home Minister.

The National Conference leader Choudhary was inducted into the J&K government as Deputy Chief Minister.

He has also been allocated different ministries including Public Works (R&B), Industries and Commerce, Mining, Labour and Employment, and Skill Development.

On Saturday, Choudhary reached Sunderbani in Rajouri district where he was warmly welcomed by people who had gathered there in large numbers.

Later, a road show was taken out that started from Sunderbani and concluded in Nowshera with Choudhary visiting different areas including Beri Pattan, Kangri, Seri, and Kalal, and reached Nowshera where he addressed a public rally.

“Restoration of statehood is the main issue and I appeal the Centre, especially Union Home Minister to restore statehood of J&K,” Choudhary said addressing the rally.

He said that the J&K government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah would set new benchmarks of development and pro-people mechanism.

He thanked CM Omar Abdullah and NC President Farooq Abdullah for appointing him as Deputy Chief Minister and giving representation to Pir Panjal region as a Deputy CM for the first time.

“It is the first time that the Pir Panjal region has been given such representation. The move to induct me as Deputy CM is a clear representation given to the entire Jammu region,” Choudhary said.

Regarding promises made by NC in its poll mandate, the senior leader said that every single promise would be fulfilled.

“I want to ensure every citizen that all the promises made by the NC will be fulfilled as we are not liars. However, we need some time to work on these,” he said asking people to question BJP also to fulfil its promises made years ago instead of asking NC to fulfil promises made days ago.

Warns Govt employees against resorting to politics

Choudhary warned government employees to refrain from interfering in political activities and urged them to concentrate on their duties.

“I want to make it clear from this stage that some government employees are trying to play a dual role - of a government employee and a political leader but these employees need to mend their ways else we will not spare them,” he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister said: “I was also an employee but I decided to enter politics and resigned from services. If these employees have political ambitions, they should also resign from their services.”

He said that in the recently-held assembly polls, some government employees who were earning handsome salaries from the government exchequer were openly campaigning for a particular political party.