Jammu, Oct 16 : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that the government’s work should be judged after completing its five-year term.
Abdullah said the government would not be short-term and that promises made in the party manifesto should be evaluated at the end of the full term. “This government will not be a government of six months. It will not be a government of a year. It will be a government of five years,” he said. He added that assessing the government’s performance before five years would not reflect the full implementation of its plans.
The Chief Minister outlined measures already taken, including the regularization of employees in various departments. “Today, 860 CPWs, who were earning 500, 1000, 2000 rupees, were regularized by the education department. Other departments have started this process. The promises we have made to our people, we are committed to them,” he said.
Abdullah added that issues on which the party contested elections would be presented as a report card at the end of the term.
On statehood, Abdullah said the central government had not fulfilled its earlier promise but the party would continue its efforts. “We still believe that the solution to almost all problems lies in statehood.
The promise made in Parliament and before the Supreme Court should be fulfilled, and the status of statehood should be restored,” he said.
Addressing the Rajya Sabha elections, Abdullah said abstaining from voting would favor the BJP. “Abstaining is equal to voting in favor of the BJP. As far as accepting bills to defeat the BJP, the bill has not yet come to the House. Before the bill becomes our property, it is the Speaker’s property. Once the bill comes, we will consider it. We will not dismiss anything that is in favor of the people,” he said.
Abdullah responded to criticism from other parties, saying attacks on the National Conference were expected. He said leaders had been requested not to stay away from elections, warning that non-participation would aid the BJP.
On disaster response, he said the administration had assessed damages from floods and rainfall and was preparing reconstruction plans. Compensation would be released under the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and in coordination with central assistance.
On the Darbar Move, Abdullah said, “The cabinet took the decision of restoration. The order has been signed and we will restore the old Darbar Move tradition.”(KNS)
