Srinagar, Sep 15: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday dismissed concerns over the stability of his government, saying he had “complete faith” in his MLAs and had no fear that any of them would switch sides.
Responding to questions about remarks by Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma over the functioning of the Assembly and the upcoming session, Abdullah defended the government’s decision to convene a seven-day session, saying the BJP was in no position to accuse his government of being “non-serious”.
“Why? The session has been called for seven days. What is non-seriousness in this?” Abdullah said.
“Non-seriousness would be if we followed the path shown by the BJP, where they have called one- or two-day sessions in their states. These are the people who never even come before Parliament, who are hardly seen in Parliament.”
Abdullah said members of his government regularly remained present in the Assembly and Parliament for long hours.
“We sit in the Assembly from morning and leave in the evening,” he said. “There is not a single day when we are not personally present in the Assembly.”
He added that the BJP could not accuse his government of lacking seriousness without comparing the attendance and participation of its own members.
“Let them see in Parliament who sits for how long. Then tell me who is taking it seriously and who is not,” he said.
Abdullah also appeared to push back against the expectation that he respond to every statement made by the Opposition.
“They make statements every day. Don’t expect me to respond to every statement,” he said. “Now you have said this today, fine. I will react to the next statement after a month. I will react to one of their statements every month, not every day.”
‘I have complete faith in my MLAs’
Asked whether he was concerned about the political stability of his government amid speculation about some MLAs potentially switching sides, Abdullah said he had no such apprehension.
“Ask me openly. Why are you asking in veiled words?” he said. “You are asking whether I count my MLAs every day or not. That is what you are asking, right?”
Asked directly whether he feared some of his MLAs could leave, Abdullah replied: “I have absolutely no fear. I have absolutely no fear. I have complete faith in my people.”
He then alleged that certain individuals were attempting to create such speculation and accused them of seeking personal benefits from the government.
“I know who is doing this in between,” Abdullah said. “There are one or two people who collect their envelopes from the agencies’ offices on Gupkar Road.”
He alleged that some of these individuals had approached him after his government was formed seeking appointments or accommodation.
“These are the same people who came to meet me in my office in Jammu as soon as the government was formed and asked me, ‘Adjust me somewhere,’” he said.
Abdullah said he had refrained from naming them out of consideration for their reputation.
“I don’t open my mouth to protect their dignity. But you can take out the record and see who came to my office. You will find all the names of those who are counting my MLAs today,” he said.
Recruitment ‘being done carefully’
On government recruitment and vacancies in various departments, Abdullah said the administration was moving ahead with the process but would not compromise on established procedures in an effort to fill posts quickly.
“There are some departments where there are vacancies, but they are not becoming available,” he said, adding that recruitment was being carried out gradually.
“We can hurry up recruitment, but often we have seen that the result of haste is not good,” Abdullah said. “Somewhere or the other, there is then room for complaints.”
He said he had instructed recruiting agencies to prioritise transparency even if the process took longer.
“I have told the recruiting agencies that even if they take one or two months more, transparency must be maintained and the procedure must be followed,” he said.
“This is so that tomorrow nobody should have any complaint about the process. The process is continuing. Wherever recruitment is needed in every department, we are doing it.”
On daily wagers’ protest
Asked about a protest call by daily wagers on September 22, coinciding with the Assembly session, Abdullah said the government stood by the commitment it had made during the Budget Session.
“We said in the Budget Session that we will resolve their issues, and we stand by that,” he said. “They are doing this during the session. Let them do it.”
On broader questions about political stability in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said the situation should be assessed openly rather than through indirect questions.
“Ask openly,” he said, before reiterating that he was not worried about the stability of his government or the loyalty of its legislators.
Abdullah was speaking after welcoming a new batch of JKAS and Accounts Gazetted Service officers into the Jammu and Kashmir government.
He said the annual process of appointments was part of the normal cycle of government service, with some officers retiring, some JKAS officers moving into the IAS and a new batch entering service.
“Today we have welcomed a new batch of JKAS and Accounts Gazetted Service officers into the Jammu and Kashmir government,” he said.
He expressed hope that the officers would use their careers to serve Jammu and Kashmir and its people.
“The next 20, 25 or 30 years of their service should be properly utilised in the service of Jammu and Kashmir and the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
