In a nuanced address that blended appreciation with critique, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday acknowledged the Central government's financial generosity towards the union territory while expressing strong disappointment over the unfulfilled promise of restoring its full statehood.
Praise for Funds, Critique on Statehood
Omar Abdullah stated he had no hesitation in thanking the Centre for its substantial allocation of funds to Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasised that the Union government had been notably generous in this aspect, leaving little room for complaint on financial support. However, he pointedly noted that the same level of magnanimity was absent regarding the critical issue of restoring J&K's statehood, a commitment he said remains pending.
"I am not among those who practise politics by deceiving people," Omar Abdullah told media persons in Srinagar. "Whenever the Centre extends support, I acknowledge it; and wherever there are shortcomings, I also speak about it." This statement was a direct response to opposition accusations that he praises the BJP-led government in Delhi but criticises it in Kashmir.
Defending His Consistent Stance
The Chief Minister was reacting to a wave of criticism from regional opposition parties. They had labelled him a "good boy" after his recent remarks in New Delhi, where he said the Centre could have brought his government "to its knees" but chose not to, showing generosity. Critics alleged he used different narratives in the national capital and in Srinagar.
Firmly rejecting this charge, Omar Abdullah asserted his consistency. "I do not say one thing in Delhi and another in Kashmir," he declared. He clarified that his acknowledgment of the Centre's financial support is a point he makes uniformly—in public meetings, official interactions, and even on the floor of the Legislative Assembly.
Criticism of New Rural Employment Bill and Renaming
Shifting focus to a central government policy, the Chief Minister launched a sharp critique of the new legislation intended to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). He argued that the new Bill shifts both the financial and administrative burden of the scheme onto state governments.
He also took aim at the scheme's new, convoluted name: 'Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin)', abbreviated as VB-G RAM G. Omar Abdullah quipped that the acronym "G-RAM G" sounded like the title of a Bollywood movie, specifically recalling an old film called 'Ji Mummy Ji'.
"First of all, I am surprised where this name came from," he said. "I am sorry, but a Bill should have been named after giving it some thought." He further criticised the removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the landmark rural employment guarantee scheme, underscoring the symbolic erasure.
Omar Abdullah was in Srinagar to review the administration's winter preparedness when he made these comprehensive remarks, balancing gratitude with a firm demand for constitutional restoration and clear-headed policy-making.
