Srinagar, Oct 27: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Tuesday said the expansion of the Omar Abdullah-led Cabinet would improve governance and accountability, and challenged the BJP to explain its response to incidents of attacks on people from the Union Territory in other states.
Speaking to reporters after the swearing-in ceremony at Lok Bhavan in Srinagar, Choudhary said the government had fulfilled its commitment to expand and reshuffle the Cabinet, and urged the media to shift its focus to governance and the BJP’s response to issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir residents.
“We had told people that we would go for an expansion and reshuffle, and now it has happened. Now question the BJP leaders or the Leader of Opposition. Or will you just eat sweets here and leave?” he said.
Referring to the induction of Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mir Saifullah, Shamima Firdous and Altaf Ahmad Wani into the Council of Ministers, Choudhary said their inclusion would strengthen the government’s functioning.
“Our only aim is that the people of Jammu and Kashmir should benefit from this government, and that is why Omar Sahab has carried out this expansion. Now ask questions about the work being done and leave the issue of expansion,” he said.
Responding to the BJP’s criticism of the Cabinet expansion, the Deputy Chief Minister said the party had repeatedly raised the issue for months and should now focus on other matters.
“For six months, they kept talking about expansion. Now it has happened, and one of their issues is over. The BJP’s work is to mislead people and do politics because it has no issues,” he alleged.
Choudhary also questioned the BJP’s response to reports of attacks on people from Jammu and Kashmir, particularly Kashmiris, who travel to other states for work.
He asked Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma to explain why BJP leaders had not spoken out against such incidents, alleging that people from the Union Territory were being selectively targeted.
“People from Jammu and Kashmir are known for their hospitality. When they go outside, whether as drivers, shawl sellers or fruit sellers, they go to earn their livelihood. When they are beaten, it hurts because they are human beings,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister urged the BJP not to malign the youth of Jammu and Kashmir and asked the party to account for what he described as its failure to fulfil its promises.
His remarks came hours after Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office to four legislators, completing the expansion of the Omar Abdullah-led Cabinet.
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