Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, emphasized the importance of staying connected to the people, warning that the biggest threat to any elected government arises when leaders lose touch with their constituents.
Addressing a jubilant gathering of National Conference (NC) leaders and workers at the party’s headquarters, Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan, Abdullah assured the public that his government will serve everyone, regardless of who supported them at the polls.
Abdullah declared, “At no cost should there be distance between the government and the people. The biggest danger to any elected government is when the elected representatives lose touch with the people. I assure the people of Jammu & Kashmir that I will hear and resolve their issues. This government works for everyone, not just only for those, who voted for us.”
Highlighting the recent appointment of Surinder Choudhary as the Deputy Chief Minister, Abdullah underscored the party’s dedication to inclusivity and regional representation.
“We represent everyone beyond religion or region. I feel so happy to see you here. Over the last 8 to 10 years, people made attempts to finish the NC. They used every tool against us. They threatened and lured our leaders, but our workers and leaders stood firm. No one expected these post-election results. However, our workers proved that the NC exists not because of its leaders but because of its dedicated workers,” he asserted.
Abdullah further added, “Was it possible to get more seats for us? Yes, we were expecting more seats from those who were with us (Congress). Then, Independent MLAs joined us without even a single condition. Even before the poll results, some claimed that Jammu would be punished for not choosing NC or Congress. I stated from day one that this government belongs to all regions, and we will serve the entire population of Jammu and Kashmir.”
The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister dismissed the notion that Choudhary’s appointment was a political obligation. He insisted that the decision was rooted in the NC’s vision of inclusivity.
“Previously, parties appointed Deputy Chief Ministers out of necessity due to their alliances. We made Surinder Choudhary the Deputy Chief Minister, that too from the party which has the CM. This is our answer to those who termed the NC as the party of Muslims or Kashmiris. Those people who haven’t replied to my messages for five years, now, they aren’t stopping texting me. What nature is capable of doing,” he stated.
Reflecting on the hurdles faced by his party, including changes in delimitation and reservation policies that seemed to favor one political group, Abdullah emphasized that such tactics could influence election outcomes but couldn’t guarantee success.
He said, “The way delimitation was done to help a single party, the way reservation was changed to help one party, the way government machinery was used, you have seen the result now. All this can take you to elections, but cannot make you win. Now starts the difficult task for us. We have to solve people’s problems and live up to their expectations.”
Abdullah also commented on the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) electoral performance, urging his party to analyze why votes still went in the BJP’s favor despite public resentment.
“If people aren’t angry with the BJP, then nothing needs to change. However, if votes still favor the BJP despite underlying resentment, we must examine the reasons behind this outcome,” Abdullah stated.
Concluding his address, Abdullah promised to deliver on the expectations of the people, particularly after years of political stagnation since the dissolution of the previous government in 2018.
“I want to assure the people of J&K that we will hear you and solve your problems,” the CM asserted.
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