 Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 15: Two years after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took the oath of office on October 16, 2024, and returned the National Conference to power in Jammu and Kashmir, his government is pointing to a growing list of people-centric measures while pressing ahead on its central political demand, the restoration of statehood.
As the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah brings long experience in running a government, leading a party and handling political rivals. The mandate that returned the National Conference reflected the public’s hopes for jobs, political rights and change, and the government says it is working to answer them within the powers a Union Territory allows.
National Conference spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq says the government still has three years left to deliver on its promises, and the party points to several measures already in place. Families covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana receive six free LPG cylinders a year. Old-age and widow pensions have been raised to Rs 3,000. Women can now travel free on public transport.
On the political front, the Assembly passed a resolution in November 2024 seeking the restoration of constitutional rights, and another in September 2026 seeking full statehood.
Party leaders say the government is firmly committed to restoring statehood. They add that the limited powers of a Union Territory remain the main hurdle to fulfilling every manifesto promise, and that issues such as the release of prisoners, the Public Safety Act and talks with Pakistan will be taken up once statehood is restored.
With the Assembly speaking in one voice on statehood and welfare benefits reaching households, the government says the remaining three years will be about turning the people’s mandate into results. |
