Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that while his government will not obstruct any bill that benefits the people, it is ultimately the prerogative of the Speaker to decide which bills are to be taken up in the Assembly.
Responding to PDP president Mehbooba Mufti linking her party’s support to the National Conference in the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections to the passage of two PDP-sponsored bills in the upcoming Assembly session, Omar said his government has no intention of stopping people-oriented legislation.
“The Speaker will decide which bill will come to the Assembly and which will not. But if a bill comes before the House which benefits the people of Jammu and Kashmir, my government will not prevent it,” Omar told reporters in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir.
He, however, clarified that he cannot direct any legislator on which bill to introduce.
“I cannot dictate to any honourable member of the Assembly which bill should come and which should not. There is a procedure to bring a bill. Whenever good bills are there, we will definitely help them,” the Chief Minister said.
Omar also referred to the private member bills introduced by legislators from different parties, including his own colleagues.
“Even one of my colleagues has brought such a bill. Tanvir Sadiq also has such a bill. The old law that was changed in 2021 — the Land Grants Act — should be amended. Now I don’t know whether Tanvir Sadiq’s bill will come up before the House. Similarly, the bill prepared and sent by the PDP — whether it will come or not — there is a procedure for that,” he said.
Reiterating that his government would not stand in the way of positive legislative initiatives, Omar added, “If such bills come up, my government will not prevent them.”
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly session is scheduled to begin on October 23, while elections for four Rajya Sabha seats are slated for the following day. The NC is contesting all four seats, whereas the BJP has fielded candidates for three.
The Chief Minister said they expected the union government to restore statehood within one year after the democratic process resumed in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We were thinking that within the first year, the Central government would fulfill this promise. But Jammu and Kashmir was deprived of statehood for reasons only the Central government and the BJP can explain,” he remarked.
The Chief Minister added they would continue to push for the restoration of full statehood. “We will not give up our efforts,” Omar asserted.
The Chief Minister said his government is committed to fulfilling the promises made to the people.
“From day one, we have said that even as a union Territory, we will fulfill as many promises as we have made to our people,” Omar said.
On the reservation issue, he said a Cabinet sub-committee, chaired by former minister Sakina Itoo, had reviewed the system and submitted its recommendations to the cabinet.
“The cabinet approved the report. Now, the department is preparing the cabinet memo. Once it is ready, we will approve it by circulation and send it to the Lieutenant Governor,” he added.
Omar also highlighted the government’s decision to restart the Darbar Move, the bi-annual transfer of administration between Jammu and Srinagar.
“That was also a promise we made to our people. About three weeks ago, during a cabinet meeting, the decision was sent to the LG. As soon as we received the LG’s file, we issued the order. After 2021, Jammu and Srinagar are now being re-connected through this Darbar Move,” he said
