Statehood restoration topmost priority of Omar Govt: Deputy CM

Jammu, Oct 25: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary Friday reiterated that the restoration of statehood of J&K was the topmost priority of the government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

“We are not bothered about what J&K BJP leaders are stating. We are in touch with their central leadership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Home Minister Amit Shah had promised to restore statehood to J&K after the elections. We are working in that direction only,” Choudhary said, while responding to media queries about J&K BJP leaders’ statements about statehood to J&K, following reports of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s meetings with the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister.

Choudhary, while interacting with media at the National Conference party office in Jammu, said that all promises made in the party manifesto would be fulfilled.

“You are posing questions to us though we have just taken over the reins of government. These questions should be posed to those who had been there at the helm of affairs for the past ten years and who truncated this State into Union Territory,” the Deputy Chief Minister told media persons when faced with queries about NC’s promises regarding statehood and other issues.

“The Chief Minister went to New Delhi and met the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, Defence Minister and the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways. After he returns from the union capital, he (Omar) will brief the media about the deliberations he had there,” he said.

In response to a question about the youth’s job aspirations, Choudhary stated, “We understand and appreciate the aspirations of the youth. We know that they have pinned all hopes on the National Conference (NC) for realising their aspirations. The reason is that NC is the only party which has always fought for their rights and strived hard to realise their aspirations. NC brought new job avenues for youth. This Government during its tenure of five years will live up to their aspirations.

Responding to queries about the recent spurt in killings in Kashmir, he said, “We condemn the loss of innocent lives, including those in Baramulla yesterday. But at the same time, I would like to assert here that killings have not started taking place after the formation of the new government. This cycle of violence and killings has been going on for the past six years. People are trying to link these killings to the new government. If that’s so – what about those, who were killed during the last six years? The killings are condemnable but it (cycle of violence) is a continuous process. New Delhi is also working honestly to end or break this cycle of violence.”

“As far as the National Conference is concerned, it has never supported violence in any form. It will never condone innocent killings. We (NC) too want an immediate end to this mindless violence. We have always worked for peace, prosperity and development of J&K and its people and will continue to strive for that,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Choudhary reiterated that the restoration of the Darbar Move was imperative to safeguard the interests of traders in Jammu and boost Jammu’s economy.