Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday questioned the government’s response to allegations being raised during the ongoing Opposition protest over the Chief Election Commissioner issue, saying action should have been taken if the claims were fabricated.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah was asked about the detention of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the continuing Opposition protest.
“If this is all fabrication, then why don’t you take action against them?” Abdullah said.
Referring to a report published by The Indian Express, the Chief Minister said that if the report was incorrect, the government could have pursued legal action against those responsible.
“At least there would have been defamation. But it was not done,” he said.
Abdullah said the ongoing protest was part of a broader programme announced by the INDIA bloc following a meeting in New Delhi.
“This is the result of the INDIA bloc meeting that took place in Delhi the other day. And the calendar of the whole month was presented to the media,” he said, adding, “We are taking that forward.”
The remarks came amid continuing Opposition protests centred on allegations concerning the Election Commission and the Chief Election Commissioner.
On the long-pending expansion of the Jammu and Kashmir Council of Ministers, Abdullah said the exercise would be taken up after the GST Council meeting in New Delhi.
He said the Assembly session had concluded and the government could have proceeded with the expansion earlier, but the GST Council meeting had necessitated a short delay.
“The Assembly session has been completed. We could have done it in a few days. But tomorrow the GST Council meeting is in Delhi. So we will complete it and then we will consult with Farooq Abdullah, party president, and we will do what we have to do,” the Chief Minister said.
Under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, the Council of Ministers in the Union Territory cannot exceed one-tenth of the total strength of the 90-member Legislative Assembly, allowing for a maximum of nine ministers, including the Chief Minister.
The present Council of Ministers has six members — Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, and ministers Sakeena Masood (Itoo), Javed Ahmed Rana, Javid Ahmad Dar and Satish Sharma — leaving three positions vacant.
The Cabinet expansion has remained pending for several months. Abdullah had earlier indicated timelines for the exercise, but it was deferred as ministers were engaged in the Assembly’s Autumn Session, which concluded on September 30.
The delay has also triggered criticism from within the ruling National Conference, with some legislators raising concerns over the performance of certain ministers and the allocation of multiple portfolios.
The Opposition BJP has also criticised the repeated postponement of the Cabinet expansion and questioned the government over the delay in filling the vacant ministerial positions.
