EXCLUSIVE | ‘Not Looking To Pick Fight With Lieutenant Governor…’: Omar Abdullah

Srinagar: After registering victory in the Assembly polls, National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah emphasised on taking much needed steps for the earlier restoration of statehood in the Jammu and Kashmir. 

In an exclusive interview with Republic TV, Omar Abdullah suggested that as soon as the government is formed, a resolution regarding statehood should be passed in the first cabinet meeting. 

“This is a priority matter. I would advise that in the first cabinet meeting a resolution regarding statehood should be passed. Then Chief Minister should travel to Delhi and meet Prime Minister and Home Minister and present them this cabinet resolution. J&K people should be rewarded with the way they have participated in the elections. PM himself appreciated the voter turnout,” Omar Abdullah said. 

'Statehood Resolution Shall Be Passed In First Cabinet Meet'

When asked over the power equation with the Lieutenant governor in the valley, Omar Abdullah said that now there is an elected government in place that has more credibility than LG.  

“I am sure the incoming government will not look for a fight with the Lieutenant governor, but LG has to recognize that he is not the unchecked leader of J&K and that there is now an elected govt who has more credibility, so the two will have to find a way,” Abdullah said. 

LG Nominating 5 MLAs Not Necessary 

On the row over the nomination of the 5 MLAs to Assembly by  Lieutenant governor in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Omar Abdullah appealed to LG that such steps should not be taken and called it an “unnecessary” move. 

“I will appeal to their good sense not to do it. It will be unfortunate and first thing they will do is inject fiction into our relationship. These 5 members won’t change the structure of assembly or bring BJP into majority. It’s an unnecessary move,” he said. 

Reflecting on the election results in Jammu region, Omar Abdullah said that it would be wrong to punish those who did not vote for NC- Congress coalition.

“It is very important that incoming government gives a sense of ownership to Jammu. They were having a lot of angst that did not reflect it in vote. There were complaints about darbar move, employment, water and it would be wrong to punish just because they did not vote for coalition,” he said. 

JKNC led the alliance to victory by securing 42 seats in the results announced on Tuesday, while Congress managed to win only six seats. A total of 90 seats were contested in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, and the BJP also performed well, winning 29 seats.