Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reaffirmed his commitment to fulfilling election promises while advocating for statehood, saying it is necessary for addressing key public issues and resolving matters beyond the Union Territory’s control.
Talking to reporters, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, as per the news agency JKNS, said, “Whatever we have promised in our election manifesto will be fulfilled within five years.”
Omar said, “We will do everything we can in the Union Territory. However, certain issues affecting the people cannot be resolved at the UT level. This is the reason I am pressing for statehood.”
“As a Union Territory, we will do whatever is possible, but some issues are beyond a UT’s control. What can be done as a state cannot be done as a UT. That is why I am advocating for statehood,” he said.
On Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s anti-obesity campaign, Omar said, “It must be considered a disease. Obesity can be controlled by changing one’s lifestyle. We must exercise and eat in moderation to overcome it.”
He further said, “PM Modi has initiated this campaign against obesity and mentioned me in a tweet. I also joined and tagged ten more people. We hope this will create a chain and spread further.”
On the water crisis due to dry weather, Omar said, “We received less than 80% of the usual snowfall and rainfall this winter. Around 70-80% of areas in Jammu and Kashmir depend on rain and snow for agriculture.”
“If there is a precipitation deficit in winter, there is a chance of a water crisis in summer. We need to change our water usage habits. It may not only impact agriculture but also household activities if the dry weather continues,” Omar said.
He added, “Whatever measures are required from the government, we will take them. As far as irrigation and rainwater harvesting are concerned, we will sit with Jal Shakti and other concerned departments to chalk out a strategy.” (JKNS)
