Jammu , June 20 : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday took a sharp swipe at PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and People’s Conference chairman Sajjad Lone, accusing them of political hypocrisy over the issue of reservation in government recruitment.
Speaking to reporters in Jammu, Omar said both leaders had ample opportunity to raise the matter earlier but chose to remain silent for political convenience. “They were silent when it mattered. Today they are raising hue and cry just for show. Mehbooba Mufti, when she needed votes, did not allow even her party members to speak about reservation. Why didn’t she speak about it when she was contesting from Anantnag and seeking support in Rajouri and Poonch?” he asked.
Targeting Sajjad Lone, Omar said, “He remained closely aligned with the government for five years. While we were being thrown out of government accommodations and our security was being downgraded, he comfortably stayed in a government house. Why didn’t he speak about reservations then? Where was his voice during those years?”
Defending his government’s handling of the issue, Omar said that the Cabinet Sub-Committee submitted its report on reservation within six months—an unprecedented step. “This is the first time any real progress was made on this front. If I had wanted to delay, I could have extended the deadline by another six months. No one could have forced me to act. Yet, we chose to move quickly. The Cabinet has accepted the Sub-Committee’s report and sent it to the law department for legal vetting,” he said.
Abdullah also expressed firm opposition to a proposed 113-kilometre canal project that aims to divert surplus water from Jammu and Kashmir to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.“I will never permit this. Our people in Jammu are already facing drought-like conditions. Why should we divert our water to Punjab? They already get water under the Indus Water Treaty. Did they ever share water with us when we needed it?” he questioned.
On being asked whether the National Conference would move the Supreme Court to seek restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, Omar responded, “We’re still waiting for Prime Minister Modi to honour his commitment on statehood. That promise hasn’t been fulfilled yet.”
He also commented on the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, questioning Israel’s recent actions. “What has Iran done that Israel is targeting it like this? Just a few months ago, the international community said Iran doesn’t have an active nuclear programme. Then why is it being targeted now?” he asked, expressing concern about Indian nationals caught in the crossfire.
“From Jammu and Kashmir alone, 1,600 students are stranded in Iran. Around 400 have been moved to safer areas, and efforts are ongoing to bring the rest to safety,” he informed.
On the administrative front, Omar Abdullah inaugurated a new Rabitta (Outreach) office in Jammu, aimed at strengthening the party’s engagement with the public and addressing their grievances. “Our Rabitta office in Kashmir has been working very effectively. Encouraged by its success, we’ve opened one in Jammu as well. People can approach us both online and offline. We will ensure faster redressal of public issues,” he added.—(KNS)
