Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said he will raise issues related to the restoration of statehood, business rules, reservation matters and other administrative concerns during his meeting with union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Omar said that while the issue of restoration of statehood would be raised once again, several other governance-related matters were also on the agenda.
“If we had gotten the statehood from a meeting, then we would have got it long ago. The process is going on. But whenever we meet, I always talk about statehood,” Omar told reporters in Srinagar.
He said he would also discuss the business rules of the union territory administration, issues related to the post of Advocate General- which has been lying vacant for over an year, and the reservation matter that has been referred by the Lieutenant Governor to Delhi.
“I want to talk about our Business Rules. I want to talk to the Advocate General. I want to talk about the reservation issue which Lieutenant Governor has referred to Delhi. I want to talk about many other issues with the Home Minister,” he said.
Chief Minister also sought to clarify his remarks over liquor shops in Jammu and Kashmir, saying his statements were being “twisted” by political opponents. On Sunday Omar had said in Ganderbal that no one was being compelled to consume alcohol, and people visit liquor outlets by their own choice triggering a controversy.
“It’s my fault. I talk to you on the side of the road. Due to lack of time, I answer in such a way that our opponents turn it around and present it differently,” he said.
The Chief Minister said liquor shops in Jammu and Kashmir cater to people whose religion permits alcohol consumption, including tourists and outsiders, and stressed that no government in the past had imposed a blanket ban on such outlets.
“This shop is not for everyone. People of different religions live in Jammu and Kashmir. People who come from outside Jammu and Kashmir, this shop is for them,” he said.
Omar asserted that his government has not opened any new liquor shops and has tried to ensure such outlets are not located in areas where youth could be negatively influenced.
“Firstly, we did not open a new shop. Secondly, we tried our best not to have a shop where our youth take the wrong path,” he said.
Hitting back at critics, Omar said a similar position had earlier been articulated by the then Finance Minister of the PDP government on the floor of the Assembly.
“If what I said was so wrong, then what did their government do” he asked, accusing opponents of deliberately misrepresenting his remarks for political gains.
