‘Metering must for free electricity, reservation report soon’
Political conspiracy behind Jammu demolitions
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Nov 28: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today called for restoration of law and order powers to his Government and said Jammu and Kashmir did not witness incidents similar to Pahalgam and Delhi terror attacks when the National Conference (NC) was in power as a full-fledged State.
Addressing a press conference after the conclusion of the NC Working Committee meeting, Omar said the Centre cannot expect accountability from elected representatives while keeping control of policing and security.
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“When we governed as a State, no Pahalgam attack happened, no Delhi attack happened. Give us law and order. If we cannot handle it, take it back,” he demanded.
On the installation of electricity metres becoming an issue for the Government, the Chief Minister said the Government wants the people to have good quality electricity at lower prices.
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“It is a fact that if you pay bills honestly, a metre will give you a lower monthly electricity bill than a fixed rate. This is an established fact for poor houses. For richer people, it might be different,” he said.
Asserting that the installation of electricity metres was a must for fulfilling the party’s election promise of providing 200 units of electricity free every month, Omar said, “It is the only way that I can measure 200 units”.
“I am constrained at being unable to fulfil this promise because the percentage of metering is still far below 50 per cent, which means the majority of the people of J-K will not fall within the purview of the (free) 200 units,” he added.
On the reservation, the Chief Minister said the Cabinet Sub Committee report has been completed and will be placed in the next Cabinet meeting. He said the process was paused during the election period to avoid procedural complications.
“A Cabinet meeting will be held. We were constrained by the fact that I did not want anybody to sabotage this by going to the Election Commission because of the (Model) Code of Conduct. Now that the Code of Conduct is over, the elections are over, the concerned Minister will present the memo in the next Cabinet meeting, and we will discuss it then,” he said.
Responding to criticism regarding the daily wagers’ issue, Chief Minister said no previous administration has taken sustained measures for their demands. He added that the Government has started consultations with them.
On working committee meeting Omar said that it coincided with the completion of one year since the party formed the government in J&K.
“It has been more than a year since the government formation. So, the party’s Working Committee, which is the highest decision-making body of the party, deliberated over the political situation. Feedback was taken from the MLAs and party leaders. Many recommendations have been made, and all those will be implemented,” he said.
He said the meeting reviewed the party’s performance in the Budgam and Nagrota bypolls, both of which the NC lost. “Whatever gaps are there will be plugged by the party in the coming days,” he added.
The Chief Minister when asked why the NC MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi was missing from the crucial Working Committee meeting, said, “We would not like to have such people who do not adhere to the discipline of the party and prefer to convey their feelings through the media”.
On Cabinet expansion, Omar said the NC president will discuss the issue with him and “whatever his direction will be, we will do that”.
Taking a dig at the People’s Democratic Party, Omar said those questioning NC’s manifesto commitments should recall the political developments of 2014. He said PDP sought votes against the BJP and later formed a government with the same party.
“They asked for votes against the BJP and then joined the BJP. We kept our word and kept the BJP out. We brought related resolutions in the Assembly and the Cabinet and are addressing public commitments stepwise,” he said.
Omar said the Government should be assessed on its performance over the full duration of its term.
He accused the Raj Bhawan-appointed officers of acting “without the approval or knowledge of the elected Government” and using bulldozers in Jammu “to humiliate and malign” the elected Government.
Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Omar said that officers appointed directly by the Raj Bhawan, without consulting the concerned Ministers, were carrying out demolition drives “on instructions from elsewhere.”
“The officers appointed by the Raj Bhawan on their own will, without the approval of the elected Government, are using bulldozers. The direct meaning of this is that it is a big conspiracy to malign the elected Government. We have been saying it time and again that in our departments, we should be allowed to appoint field staff,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that while the appointment of Principal Secretaries and Commissioner Secretaries may be acceptable, posts such as CEOs of development authorities and revenue officials should be filled only with the approval of the elected government.
“Unfortunately, people are being appointed to these posts without consulting us. These officers then take dictations from somewhere else, take their bulldozers, and take action,” he said.
The Chief Minister alleged that a particular community was being targeted in the latest demolition case in Jammu. “There is no doubt that all this is being done under a conspiracy. A particular community is being targeted,” he said.
Referring to the demolition of Journalist’s house in Jammu, Omar questioned why the JDA had singled out one individual. “Is their religion behind this? Because it is not possible that this is the only illegal occupation on JDA land. I have asked the department for a complete list of places where JDA has been accused of illegal occupation,” he said.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the Government was not defending illegal encroachments. “No one is in favour of the illegal occupation of Government land. But the way to rectify the occupation is not by picking and choosing,” he said.
Omar challenged authorities to publish a full list of illegal occupations. “I urge the CEO of JDA to take out a list of all illegal occupations of JDA land in Jammu and put it in the newspaper tomorrow. You will see who all are behind this,” he said.
The Chief Minister alleged that repeated actions being taken without Ministerial permission had convinced him that “a political conspiracy” was unfolding.
“If our appointed officer had done this work, I would have taken action against him. How can you take such a big step without the Minister’s permission?” he said.
“If it had happened once, I would have said it was a mistake. If it happened twice, it could still happen. But one after another, such acts are being done only to humiliate and defame the elected Government.”
Omar said the Government had neither been informed nor consulted before the latest demolition drive. “These people are not able to digest the consequences of the elections. This is nothing other than a political conspiracy,” he said.
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