Srinagar, Dec 17 (JKNS): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said Nitish Kumar’s actions are neither new nor acceptable.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, CM Omar Abdullah as per news agency JKNS said, “We have seen such incidents before as well. During my election, people may have forgotten how Mehbooba Mufti got a legitimate voter’s burqa removed inside a polling station. This is a continuation of the same mindset. What happened then was unfortunate, and this incident is equally shameful.”
He further said that a man publicly humiliating another person, particularly a woman, is unjustifiable under any circumstances. “If the Chief Minister did not want to hand over the appointment letter himself, he could have stepped aside. But humiliating someone in front of everyone is completely wrong. Slowly, the reality of Nitish Kumar, who was once considered a secular and sensible leader, seems to be coming out,” Omar Abdullah remarked.
Responding to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s remarks on fiscal discipline by states in relation to GDP, the Chief Minister said Jammu and Kashmir is functioning under inherited financial constraints.
“We are running the system with whatever we have inherited. Jammu and Kashmir is not financially self-reliant yet and remains heavily dependent on the Government of India for financial resources. Earlier, as a state, we used to receive our share of central taxes. After becoming a Union Territory, that share has stopped, and now a large portion of the budget pressure has to be managed through direct transfers,” he said.
However, CM Omar asserted that his government has maintained financial responsibility. “Despite these challenges, over the past 15–16 months, we have ensured there is no financial negligence. If anyone can point out even a single instance where public money has been misused or spent irresponsibly, I am ready to be held accountable,” he added. (JKNS)
