SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday urged political leaders from Ladakh and Kargil to seek written and signed commitments from the Central Government instead of relying on verbal assurances.
Speaking to reporters after a review meeting in Pulwama, Omar said leaders should not place their trust in promises from the Centre unless they were formally recorded and signed.
“As a friend and elder brother, I would advise the leaders of Ladakh that they should not trust any promise made by the Central Government until it is given to them in writing and signed,” he said.
Omar referred to the Centre’s assurance on restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, saying the people of the Union Territory had also received a verbal commitment that the status would be restored after elections.
“We were also victims of a verbal promise. We were told that statehood would be restored immediately after the elections. Nearly two years have passed, and that promise is nowhere to be seen,” he said.
The Chief Minister advised leaders from Ladakh and Kargil to seek a written assurance from the Centre, preferably through an affidavit, before relying on its commitments.
He also acknowledged that Ladakh has issues distinct from those concerning Jammu and Kashmir, while maintaining that formal written assurances were important when dealing with official commitments.
