Cabinet Expansion Will Happen ‘Sometime’, Says Omar Abdullah

Srinagar, Aug 10: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the expansion of his Council of Ministers will happen “sometime”, while ruling out any possibility of the exercise before August 15.

“It is work in progress,” Omar said while responding to questions from reporters about the proposed Cabinet expansion.He added that it would not take place before August 15.

The Chief Minister said it would be unfair to the ministers whose names have been assigned to deliver speeches on Independence Day.

“They are preparing their speeches. Let them give their speeches,” the Chief Minister said.Omar expressed surprise at being repeatedly questioned about the Cabinet reshuffle.

“Do you ever ask this question to the Prime Minister Sahib in Delhi? There, for how many months, reshuffle, reshuffle, reshuffle is being talked about, but no one asks there. Here, you are so worried. It will happen sometime, don't worry.”

The Chief Minister also welcomed the prospect of the deadlock in Parliament ending, saying the government should respond to the issues raised by the Opposition, including those related to the student protests and police action.

“If the union Home Minister is going to address the concerns or the issues raised by the Opposition in Parliament, then that's good. That's what Parliament or any Assembly is meant for. The Opposition's job is to raise issues. The government's job is to respond to those issues,” Omar said.

He said it would be a positive development if the union Home Minister responds to questions related to the protests at Jantar Mantar and the manner in which the situation was handled.

“If the Honourable Home Minister is answering the questions and Parliament starts working again, then that's good. People want Parliament to run,” he said.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the substantial expenditure involved in running Parliament, noting that people were unhappy when proceedings were disrupted without substantive work being conducted.

“It takes a lot of money to run Parliament. But if there is no work there, then people don't like it,” Omar said.

Expressing hope that the remaining days of the parliamentary session would pass smoothly, he added, “I hope that the rest of the days in Parliament will go well.”