Jammu, Mar 30: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday expressed his desire for the opposition to emerge victorious in the upcoming Assembly elections across four states and a Union Territory in the country, even as he asserted that the final mandate rests with the people.
Speaking to reporters outside the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister, as per Kashmir Convener, said that polls are scheduled in West Bengal (April 23 and 29), Tamil Nadu (April 23), Assam (April 9), Kerala (April 9) and the Union Territory of Puducherry (April 9), with results to be declared on May 4.
“Our BJP colleagues from Jammu and Kashmir are travelling to other states for campaigning, while we are sitting here. What should happen and what will happen – we will see,” CM Omar Abdullah said when asked about the likely electoral outcome.
Highlighting the prevalence of alliance politics, he pointed to the BJP’s tie-up with the Asom Gana Parishad in Assam, and the rival coalitions involving the BJP-AIADMK, DMK-Congress and Left fronts in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
“We would want the opposition to win all five elections, including Puducherry, though the final decision rests with the people,” the Chief Minister said.
CM Omar Abdullah also weighed in on the ongoing conflict involving Iran, suggesting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi could play a decisive role in bringing hostilities to an end.
“I am going to talk about Iran and how the war will end soon. The role that the Prime Minister can play in this is something that no one else can play because he has good relations with all these countries,” he said.
Warning against any escalation, he added, “Now, if Trump does such a foolish thing, knowing that no one has ruled Iran for years, it will not be that easy. I think that whatever is there should be ended here itself. A ceasefire should be declared and this war should end.”
Reiterating his earlier remarks in the Assembly, CM Omar Abdullah said, “Our Prime Minister has good and close relations with all these countries, whether it is Israel, America, Iran or the countries around Iran. If we can use these relations and make progress in this, then it will be a good thing. Who can deny that?”
Drawing a parallel with Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach, he said, “Pakistan is taking advantage of its good relations with Iran and America. Now they have taken it. How can we object? If the war stops from their side, then what do you want? That they do not do it and the war continues. We want the war to stop. If any country can play its role in this, then do it. If we can play a better role than this, we should do it.”
Earlier in the day, CM Omar Abdullah defended the government’s handling of private members’ bills in the Assembly, asserting that proposals are not rejected without thorough scrutiny.
Responding to concerns raised during a discussion on a private member’s bill introduced by Congress MLA Nizam-ud-Din Bhat—seeking equitable employment opportunities in civil services—the Chief Minister said it was “somewhat unfair” to suggest the government routinely opposes such bills without applying its mind.
“It may seem as though we simply pick up a note marked ‘oppose’ and reject a bill, but that is not the case,” he said, adding that every proposal is carefully evaluated for feasibility and its pros and cons.
During the session on Monday, nearly a dozen of the 33 listed private members’ bills were introduced. While several were withdrawn, others were rejected through a voice vote after the government presented its views.
Referring to MLA Bandipora Nizamuddin Bhat’s proposal, CM Omar Abdullah said that after detailed examination, the bill appeared to have more drawbacks than benefits. He said that limiting recruitment or postings to local levels could create administrative complications, including the need for creating additional cadres, possible shortages of eligible candidates, and complications in implementing reservation policies.
CM Omar Abdullah further said that his government cannot permit indiscriminate felling of walnut trees as it could severely impact the region’s economy and identity.
However, he made it clear that any relaxation must be linked to safeguards and proposed that if old or non-productive trees are to be cut, it should be mandated through legislation that only high-density walnut plantations be raised on that land, with no alternative land use permitted.
He said the Union Territory is contributing nearly 3.5 lakh tonnes – over 90 per cent of the country’s total walnut production. Opposing the private member’s bill moved by National Conference legislator Altaf Ahmad Wani seeking an amendment in the Jammu and Kashmir Preservation of Specified Trees Act to grant owners the free will to cut walnut trees on their land, Abdullah said that while land and trees may belong to individuals, restrictions on cutting them exist for valid reasons, including conservation and long-term economic interests.
He said, similar to protections extended to chinar trees, several other species are safeguarded under existing frameworks. Highlighting the economic stakes, he said walnuts form a significant component of the region’s economy.
“If unrestricted permission is given, people may cut walnut trees, but may not replant them. Instead, there is a risk of land being diverted for construction, which would reduce walnut production to negligible levels,” he said.
The chief minister acknowledged concerns about corruption in the permission process, stating that such issues arise wherever restrictions exist. He suggested that bringing permissions for tree felling under the Public Services Guarantee Act with fixed timelines could help reduce delays and curb corruption.
“Until safeguards are in place, we cannot allow indiscriminate cutting of trees or diversion of land. This would endanger a key identity and economic asset of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, urging the member to withdraw the bill.
The chief minister assured that a well-structured proposal ensuring replantation with high-density varieties could receive the House’s approval in the future. Satisfied with the response of the chief minister, the MLA later withdrew his bill.
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