Srinagar, Dec 15 : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the issue of key institutions not being handed back to the elected government should be taken very seriously.
Referring to the Power Development Corporation (PDC), Omar Abdullah said that despite holding the Power portfolio, the corporation has not yet been returned to the elected government. He said institutions that were earlier with the elected government should be restored.
In being asked abkut the alleged interference of an MLA in a power project in Jammu Division, Omar said that these projects are not only for Jammu and Kashmir but for the whole country. “These are projects of national importance and there should be no permission for interference anywhere,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that at present only one MLA has been publicly discussed, but interference was taking place at several project sites in Kishtwar.
He said that two opposition MLAs were interfering in almost every project in the district, adding that agencies should be allowed to do their work independently, he said.
Speaking on terror attack in Australia, Omar said it was unfortunate that innocent people had been killed. No religion, anywhere in the world, allows the merciless killing of innocent people, he added.
He praised the bravery of a civilian who risked his life to overpower an armed attacker and snatch his weapon, saying the act saved many lives. “It is a very sad incident and it should not have happened,” he said.
On tourism, the Chief Minister said the revival of tourism also depends largely on weather conditions. He said that without proper snowfall in Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg, quality tourist inflow would remain affected, he said.
The CM as per Kashmir News Service (KNS) said the government was making all possible efforts from its side, including infrastructure development and promotion. He added that Gulmarg would soon host the annual convention of the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India and several other steps were being taken to promote tourism.
On airfare regulation, Omar said ticket capping had failed across the country. He said even after clear instructions were issued by the Government of India to control airfares following the grounding of an airline, ticket prices were not brought under control.
“We are also victims of this situation, but at present there is no solution,” he added.
Referring to the Pahalgam case, the Chief Minister said the chargesheet was being prepared and the matter would now be decided by the court. He said such decisions should always be left to the judiciary, he said.
“The NIA has completed its investigation. The chargesheet will be presented and the case will be fought in court. There is a law and there is a court to decide who is guilty and who is innocent,” he added.(KNS)
