Committed to unbiased governance in J&K: Omar

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday reiterated his government’s commitment to unbiased governance in Jammu and Kashmir.

Omar, who chaired a district review meeting at the Conference Hall in Jammu’s Samba, also “emphasised that decisions would not be influenced by political affiliations or party lines.”

He was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, ministers Sakeena Itoo, Javed Ahmad Rana, Javid Ahmad Dar and Satish Sharma.

A spokesperson said Omar urged officers to address public issues brought forth by elected representatives with seriousness and urgency. Omar said, “They are elected representatives of the people and it is natural for people to expect solutions through them.”

“As I have always maintained, this government — or any government—should not make decisions based on the basis of political affiliations,” he said. “We must prioritise whether a project holds public utility or a public issue benefits the people. If it does, it must be processed and dealt with without delay.”

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also acknowledged the challenges faced by the administration this year, citing two major elections as key reasons for delayed developmental activities.

“The parliamentary elections stretched over a long period, and the imposition of the model code of conduct brought work to a halt. Even in some areas, where the work season coincided with the elections, progress was further delayed,” he said.

Addressing district-specific concerns, he urged the administration to expedite developmental activities and said, “Accelerate the pace of work as much as possible, ensuring it is executed effectively at the ground level. Efforts must focus on completing the work satisfactorily.”

He also stressed the importance of timely submission of utilisation certificates (UCs) for funds to be allocated by the central government.

Omar said when the government approaches the central government repeatedly—whether to discuss with a minister or secure funds for Jammu and Kashmir—the common complaint is that UCs are not submitted on time. “Prompt submission of UCs will ensure continuity of financial support and effective resource utilisation,” he said.

Speaking on governance, Omar noted the impact of the return of MLAs after 2018.

“With the return of MLAs, public expectations and pressures have significantly increased. This requires a coordinated effort to address the people’s demands effectively.”