Srinagar, June 24 (JKNS): Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary on Tuesday said the Omar Abdullah-led government is making every effort to restore statehood and special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to approve the long-pending Business Rules.
“We have secured key projects worth Rs 10,637 crore for J&K from Delhi. Now, we appeal to LG Manoj Sinha to approve the Business Rules, which are vital for ensuring seamless governance and strengthening the administration across the Union Territory,” Choudhary said while addressing a press conference in Srinagar as per news agency JKNS.
He added, “Delhi has responded positively to our requests, and we expect LG Sinha to stand with the people by granting the Business Rules at the earliest. This step will help lay the foundation for restoring statehood and special status for J&K, putting the UT on the path to progress and prosperity.”
He expressed gratitude to PM Modi, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for the approval of 19 key road and tunnel projects worth Rs 10. 637 crore for Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the projects have been approved by Centre after hectic efforts by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. “In 8 months of our tenure, the Chief Minister after visiting Delhi multiple times has made the approval of these key projects possible for J&K. He is not among the Chief Ministers who visited Delhi for downgrading of erstwhile J&K state to Union Territory. The approval of these projects show the seriousness of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah,” he said.
He said the government led is putting sincere efforts to ensure the restoration of statehood and J&K’s special status.
He also lashed out at the BJP, stating that none among them has won recent assembly elections on their own. “The narco test of all the BJP MLAs including the Leader of Opposition needs to be conducted to ascertain the veracity of their statements,” he said.
Reacting to demands for bunkers in border areas, he said the approval has to be given by the Centre. “We hope it will be done shortly,” he said, adding that as witnessed in the ‘Operation Sindoor’, Jammu and Srinagar also felt the impact, thus the need for such bunkers is not confined to border areas only. (JKNS)
