At J&K Budget Session, LG reiterates commitment to restore statehood – ‘recognise its emotional and

Reiterating his government’s commitment to “restoring full statehood” for Jammu and Kashmir, its Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said Saturday that his government would address the “legitimate desire” of the people in the UT. The Lt Governor, who addressed the J&K Legislative Assembly at the start of its nearly two-month long Budget Session, said: “My government recognises the emotional and political significance of statehood for the people and is actively engaging with all stakeholders to facilitate this process in a manner that ensures peace, stability and progress”. His remarks came amid heightened political activity in the UT, with opposition parties gearing up to challenge the government on contentious issues such as the now-abrogated Article 370 and special status to J&K, and the termination of several government employees on the grounds of national security, among other things. “This Budget is not merely a financial document; it is a testament to the aspirations of the masses, reflecting their hopes for a better future,” he said. The L-G also referred to the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for the first time, saying he was personally chairing meetings for all the 20 districts, and engaging directly with the elected representatives to understand their aspirations, regional needs and development priorities in the formulation of the Budget. “The voices of the people are again shaping the allocation of resources and prioritisation of development goals,” he said.