Kavinder Gupta slams Congress, NC for neglecting Jammu and Ladakh in past
Oct 12, 2024
Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], October 12 : Former Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Kavinder Gupta responded to JKNC Vice President Omar Abdullah's 'Jammu won't be ignored' statement, by criticising past governments for neglecting Jammu and Ladakh.
Speaking to ANI, he also emphasised the need to embrace the current wave of equal development efforts.
Gupta said, "All the governments that have been here to date--be it Congress or National Conference--have treated Jammu and Ladakh poorly. That is why there have been protests and demonstrations here from time to time. Today, when equal development is happening, it is wise to embrace it."
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah met with LG Manoj Sinha on Friday evening and staked a claim to form the government in the territory by submitting letters of support his party has received. After meeting LG Sinha, Abdullah stated that the swearing-in ceremony could probably be conducted on Tuesday (October 15) or Wednesday (October 16), as the LG has conveyed that the completion of paperwork may take up to 2-3 days.
"I met the LG and handed over letters of support from the Congress, CPM, AAP, and independents. I requested him to fix a date for the swearing-in ceremony so that the government can start functioning," Abdullah said.
Speaking at the oath ceremony, he noted, "It will be a long process as there is Central rule here. The LG will first send the documents to Rashtrapati Bhawan and then to the Home Ministry. We have been told it will take 2-3 days. So, if it happens before Tuesday, we will have the swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday."
Abdullah dismissed all claims of neglecting the Jammu area after the government formation, stating, "All I want to say is that Jammu will not be ignored by this government."
The Congress party formally extended its backing to the National Conference for forming the government in Jammu and Kashmir by providing a letter of support. Congress held a meeting of its legislature party on Friday and authorised the party's central leadership to elect a CLP leader.
The National Conference-Congress alliance has come to power in Jammu and Kashmir in the assembly polls, winning a total of 48 seats, with the NC carrying the alliance to power, as Congress could only win six seats. Ninety assembly seats in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly went to the polls in a three-phase election.
The letter of support from Congress, as well as independents and the AAP, paved the way for the National Conference to stake its claim to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir. This will be the first elected government in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the state into two union territories.
Omar Abdullah, who has been elected as the Leader of the National Conference, stated that whenever a government is formed in Jammu and Kashmir, it should pass a resolution and begin talks with the Union government to restore Jammu and Kashmir's statehood.