There are two power centres in Jammu and Kashmir, CM Omar Abdullah

“Working with the PM Modi-led government doesn’t mean that he accepts everything they do.”

STC NEWS DESK
Srinagar, January 17 (STC): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said that there are two power centres in Jammu and Kashmir. “The Lieutenant Governor has powers, and so does the elected Chief Minister. And truth be told, it makes for a pretty messy situation.”
CM Omar Abdullah said this during a question-answer session with India Today.
“I don’t think any organization does well when there isn’t a unity of command. There is a reason why you have only one cricket captain, only one Army chief, an Air chief, a Naval chief, one prime minister. You don’t have a multiplicity of command. But for some reason, we have this union territory model, and it doesn’t work,” he elaborated.
On being asked about the functioning of government from two power centres, Omar Abdullah said “It’s been a period of adjustment for both of us. And that’s bound to me. I mean, it’s a new experience for Lieutenant Governor also. The first four years, he was the sole authority. Now he has to share power with an elected government. So, obviously, it’s a period of adjustment for him as well. But we are making it work”.
“Because in Delhi, it’s very clear there is a separation of powers. That’s something that needs to be clarified, but I am working on the assumption that this is very much a temporary situation, because you have commitments from the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and others that statehood would be restored in J&K. So I think it’s only a matter of time,” he said.
About restoration of Statehood, Omar Abdullah said “We don’t have a timeline, but I expect it at the earliest simply because it’s the promise that the Home Minister, the Prime Minister and others have made. It was a commitment made by the Supreme Court. In fact, a little more than a year and a month ago, the Supreme Court said that statehood should be restored at the first available opportunity as soon as possible. So I’m hopeful that it’ll be quite soon”.
About reservation, the chief minister, Omar Abdullah said that the matter is being addressed on twin tracks. “Look, it’s working on a twin track. There is a Cabinet sub-committee that has been tasked with examining the reservation issue. It’s also a matter that is now in front of the J&K High Court, and the court has very clearly said that any recruitment that is done now will be subject to whatever the ultimate outcome of this court decision is. Ultimately, this matter will be agitated in the Supreme Court. It is the Supreme Court that will have the final say on this, and the Cabinet sub-committee will do its work,” he said.
On release of political prisoners, he commented that it’s something that has to be done. “I believe that an amnesty for people who do not have serious charges or who, in the years that they’ve now been incarcerated, you haven’t been able to charge at all”.
Meanwhile, the JK CM said that there is no need to pick a fight with the centre where there isn’t need for one. However, he
emphasized that working with the PM Modi-led government doesn’t mean that he accepts everything they do. (STC)