ammu, Oct 19 : Stating that those who used to target the National Conference as being a party of dynasts only, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said that the post of Deputy Chief Minister given to the Jammu representative is a clear message to the people that Jammu has an equal share in the government.
“I have not made Surinder Choudhary as Deputy Chief Minister neither out of any compulsion nor he has any relation with me or my family,” Abdullah said while addressing party cadre here at the Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan on visiting Jammu after taking over as the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory.
“I wanted to convey to the people of Jammu that they have an equal share in the government as that of Kashmir and this is the key motive behind giving the Deputy Chief Minister from the Jammu region,” said Abdullah adding that Jammu and Kashmir has now Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister from the same party.
Surinder Choudhary won from the Nowshera Assembly Constituency by defeating BJP J&K President Ravinder Raina.
On Statehood restoration, he urged the party workers not to be upset as all efforts will be made to get back what has been snatched, adding, “We are a Union Territory but don’t be annoyed and what has been snatched from us, we will get it back.”
Expressing gratitude to the Independent candidates for extending support to the National Conference, the Chief Minister said, “I have been saying from day one that I will take the people of Jammu along so that Jammu does not feel neglected.”
Without naming the BJP, he stated, “the delimitation was done to benefit one single party and reservation was another move but results are in front of everyone.”
“Our responsibility is now to minimise the miseries of the people and reduce people—government gap,” Omar said.
Taking a jibe at some of the people without naming them, Abdullah said that when he lost the Lok Sabha election, many officers and friends had thought that it was over for him but the same people now greet him in the day, texting him ‘good night’, ‘good-morning’ messages.
“People have given us the opportunity and it is high time to prove ourselves,” he stated.
Batting in favour of the media, the Chief Minister said that his government will not punish anybody for writing against him ensuring that the media fraternity can work in a fearless atmosphere.
He also promised that for those journalists, who were denied accreditation, his administration would resolve the discrepancy urging the media not only to highlight the ‘bad’ but also the ‘good’ works of the government.
UNI
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