Srinagar, Jan 09: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday raised concerns about the lack of clarity surrounding the leadership and agenda of the INDIA bloc, stating that there was no time limit attached to its formation. He also expressed dismay over the delay in convening a meeting of the alliance.
Speaking to reporters, Omar emphasised that if the INDIA bloc was formed solely for the upcoming parliamentary elections, it should be wound up.
“If this alliance was only for the parliamentary elections, it should be wound up, and we will work separately. But if it is meant for the Assembly elections as well, we will have to sit together and work collectively. After the Assembly elections in Delhi, all the alliance members should be called for a meeting,” he said.
Omar pointed out that no meeting of the INDIA bloc had been held for a long time. “As far as I remember, no time limit was set for this. The issue is that no meeting of the INDIA bloc is being convened. Whether this alliance will continue is also unclear,” he added.
Addressing the growing support for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi, Omar noted that the AAP, Congress, and other political parties on the ground would determine how to effectively challenge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “I cannot comment on the increasing support for AAP ahead of the Delhi elections because we have no involvement in the Delhi polls. AAP, Congress, and other political parties will decide how to compete strongly with the BJP,” he stated.
Reflecting on AAP’s past successes in Delhi, Omar remarked, “AAP has succeeded twice in Delhi previously. This time, we will have to wait and see what the people of Delhi decide.”
Omar further expressed concerns about the lack of clarity regarding the INDIA bloc’s future leadership and strategy. “Perhaps the members of the INDIA bloc will be called for a meeting after the Delhi elections, and clarity will emerge then,” he said.
On the legislative front, Omar mentioned that the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was convening an orientation programme for newly-elected legislators on Thursday. “Many of us have been members of this House before, but that was when J&K was a state. The system is different today. We need to understand how we are going to work and what the powers of this Assembly are,” he said.
Omar also lauded the orientation programme, organised by the Speaker, as an essential step in familiarising legislators with the new system. “The Deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha also participated in this exercise. I believe the experience of senior members will prove beneficial,” he added.
He concluded that the orientation programme would help newly-elected members represent the people more effectively in future sessions. “The MLAs will be able to raise issues effectively and work for the people in a better way,” Omar said.
CM sets benchmarks for govt depts in 100-day & one-year plans
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today conducted a comprehensive review of the functioning of all government departments in a high-level meeting held at the Civil Secretariat.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Cabinet Ministers Javid Ahmad Rana, Sakeena Itoo, and Javid Ahmad Dar, along with Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Dheeraj Gupta, and all administrative secretaries and senior officers, who participated in person or via virtual mode.
During the meeting, each administrative secretary presented a detailed vision document outlining achievable benchmarks for two specific timeframes: 100 days and one year. The documents included major policy decisions, project completions, and the launch of new development initiatives.
Emphasising the importance of adhering to strict timelines, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stressed that timely execution of all projects is crucial to meeting public expectations and ensuring progress. “Timely delivery is key to driving development and fulfilling the needs of the people,” he said.
Discussions were held on strategies to ensure these benchmarks are met efficiently. The Chief Minister also called for a collective effort from all departments to prioritise transparency, accountability, and swift implementation of plans, aiming to achieve the outlined goals within the stipulated timeframes.
