Let bureaucrats understand… now decisions will not be taken without ascertaining opinion of public: Omar in Jammu

“We had no such compulsions. While the Congress is yet to decide on joining his ministry, we decided to have a Deputy CM from the same party as the CM,” he said.

Responding to allegations of nepotism, he said: “Now what will you say, since the deputy CM is from Jammu and he has nothing to do with my family. I, too, can ask you many questions, but I will not like to use that occasion for that because the people have given the answer”.

Without naming the BJP, the party said the people of Jammu overwhelmingly voted for one party despite resentment over various issues from the ‘Durbar’ move to electricity meters, inflated power bills and unemployment.

“However, this resentment was not seen at polling booths. Either there is no anger among people as everything here is alright,” he said. “If this is the case, it’s good and one doesn’t need to do much here. But votes have been given despite the resentment, one needs to understand what has happened.”

At the same time, Omar also made it clear that his administration will not run on the basis of voting patterns.

“Elections are over and people have given their verdict. The government has been formed and now it is our job to reach out to the people and redress their grievances,” he said.

The real task begins now, he said, assuring people that their voices “won’t go unheard”.

“Let bureaucrats also understand in one or two weeks that a new democratically elected government has come and now the decisions will not be taken without ascertaining the opinion of the public at the secretariat or in their offices,” he said.

He promised to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. “We are a UT but don’t be annoyed. We will get back what has been snatched from us,” the CM said.