Says US tariff rollback relief for Indian exporters
Announces railway projects in south Kmr put on hold
Bats for inclusive pilgrimages, stronger RTC
Jammu, Feb 03: Stating that the issue of alleged victimisation and harassment of Kashmiris will be taken up for discussion in the ongoing Assembly session, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that he would respond to queries related to the budget only on the floor of the House.
Talking to reporters outside the Assembly, Omar, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that a discussion on concerns related to Kashmiris had been scheduled in the legislature.
“We are going to have a discussion on the issue of victimising and harassing Kashmiris,” he said.
Asked about his views on the budget presentation, the Chief Minister declined to comment outside the House, saying he would address the matter during the Assembly proceedings. “I will say everything in the House regarding the budget,” he said.
Responding to questions about remarks allegedly made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Parliament, Omar said it was the Speaker’s privilege to decide on such matters and stressed that legislative decorum must be maintained.
“It is the privilege of the Speaker to decide. In the same way, in our Assembly, it is not appropriate to discuss our Assembly in Parliament,” he said, adding that he was unaware of what transpired there.
On the Congress’s demand for the formation of a coordination committee, Omar said the matter should be taken up with the party leadership. “Talk to the president of the National Conference,” he said.
Clarifying his role, Omar said he serves as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and Dr Farooq Abdullah remains the president of the National Conference.
“Meet the president of the National Conference, Farooq Abdullah. Ask him,” he added.
He also linked the removal of US tariffs on India to New Delhi’s reported decision to stop importing oil from Russia, saying the move would benefit Indian exporters but could have implications for fuel prices.
Abdullah said the tariffs had caused significant hardship for exporters and suggested they were imposed because the US administration was unhappy with India purchasing oil from Russia.
He noted that while the Indian government has not issued an official statement, the US President has announced that India has stopped buying Russian oil, following which the tariffs would no longer apply.
“If we have indeed stopped buying oil from Russia, it remains to be seen where we source our oil from and whether that will lead to an increase in petrol and diesel prices,” Abdullah said, adding that the impact would become clear over time.
The Chief Minister said the reduction in tariffs would bring relief to exporters who were struggling due to higher costs and uncertain markets. He said many exporters had feared shutting down operations, but the rollback could help revive their businesses.
Separately, Abdullah criticised the mixing of sports and politics, particularly in the context of India-Pakistan cricket matches.
He said such matches are often projected as confrontations rather than sporting events, unlike games played against other countries. “When sports and politics are combined, this is the result,” Abdullah said, questioning the media’s portrayal of India-Pakistan matches as a “war.”
BATS FOR INCLUSIVE PILGRIMAGES, STRONGER RTC
Asserting that the government is working to strengthen the Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (RTC) to make it financially sustainable, CM Omar said there is a public demand to make pilgrimage tourism in the Union Territory inclusive of all religions. “At present only one major pilgrimage destination, Shahdra Sharif in Rajouri, lies within Jammu and Kashmir, while most other religious sites associated with different faiths are located outside the UT.
“There are Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Christians, and there is a demand that every religion should be brought into this sphere,” he said.
On public transport, the Chief Minister said efforts were underway to improve RTC services by inducting new vehicles, including e-buses and long-distance buses, to enhance revenue generation.
“As new vehicles come in, we are trying our best to strengthen the RTC. If the corporation earns well and uses that revenue properly, it will be able to finance new vehicles on its own,” he said.
CM Omar said improving RTC finances would also help ensure better salaries for employees and improve overall service delivery.
On railway expansion in south Kashmir, the chief minister said two proposed rail projects passing through areas such as Pahalgam, Kakapora and Shopian have been put on hold following objections from local residents and elected representatives.
He said people had raised concerns that the proposed railway alignments would pass through productive orchards and major tourist areas, while roads and highways in the region were already in good condition.
“There was no public demand for these railway lines. The people conveyed that they would not benefit from them,” Abdullah said.
He said he had conveyed these concerns to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on multiple occasions. Abdullah said alternative alignments, including routes towards Ladakh or Rajouri–Poonch, could be explored, but there was no justification for rail lines passing only through Pahalgam and Shopian.
“These projects would consume precious land without offering real benefits,” he said, adding that the concerns raised by locals were accepted and the projects were subsequently put on hold.
CM Omar also welcomed the popularity of the Vande Bharat train service in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly during the winter season, saying it has attracted a large number of tourists.
However, he said ticket availability remains a challenge for local residents. “Now tickets have to be booked three to four months in advance. It is difficult for locals to plan travel like that, especially when road conditions are uncertain,” he said.
Abdullah urged the Railways to increase the frequency of Vande Bharat services and extend the length of the trains to accommodate more passengers.
“Tourists should be able to travel, but local people should also get seats,” he said, congratulating the Railways on the success of the service while flagging the need for expansion. (KNO)
