SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah presided over the commencement of Vigilance Awareness Week 2024 by leading the Integrity Pledge, reinforcing the Jammu and Kashmir government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in public service. The ceremony, held at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar and attended by high-ranking officials across the Union Territory, was marked by Abdullah’s impassioned call for a corruption-free administration.,
In his speech, Abdullah voiced strong concerns regarding the existing “hybrid system of governance” in Jammu and Kashmir, a model established following the Union Territory’s creation. He cautioned officials against exploiting the current transitional framework, stating, “I know that some may feel they can exploit this system to their advantage, finding loopholes in the governance model that exists in JK at the moment.”
The Chief Minister’s remarks underscored worries about potential misconduct in this “temporary phase” and his intent to hold officials accountable. Abdullah assured participants that recent high-level meetings in New Delhi had brought “reassurances at the highest level” that the governance structure of Jammu and Kashmir would soon evolve. “Please remember, the shield may last temporarily, but it is only temporary,” he declared, in a direct warning to those who might seek to evade responsibility under the Union Territory’s current administrative setup.
The Integrity Pledge ceremony, attended by Administrative Secretaries, Deputy Commissioners, and departmental officers through video conferences from Jammu and district headquarters, reflects Abdullah’s drive to instil a “Culture of Integrity for Nation’s Prosperity” across Jammu and Kashmir. He called on participants to make integrity central to their work and uphold transparency across all levels of governance.
Abdullah’s address also touched on the government’s larger mission: “Our newly elected government has made a firm pledge to build a governance model rooted in integrity, fairness, and honesty.” He encouraged all public servants to embrace vigilance as a principle, stressing that “integrity is not merely a principle to be discussed but a practice to be lived.”
With Vigilance Awareness Week running from October 28 to November 3, Abdullah’s message reminds the government of its commitment to a corruption-free Jammu and Kashmir. As he looks to a future of restored statehood, Abdullah leaves no doubt: once the region returns to full statehood, there will be no room for corruption or unaccountable governance.
