SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the expansion of his Council of Ministers would take place within the first two to three days of next week, adding that the list of ministers had been finalised after consultations with National Conference president Farooq Abdullah.
Omar made the announcement after meeting Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan, where he also discussed several issues concerning the Union Territory.
The Chief Minister said he had requested the Lieutenant Governor to allocate time for the oath-taking ceremony, adding that the schedule would be decided by Sinha.
Omar said the ministerial choices had already been settled following consultations with Farooq Abdullah. He urged party colleagues to stop sending biodata and messages seeking consideration for ministerial positions, saying the decision had been taken.
Explaining the purpose of his meeting with the Lieutenant Governor, Omar said he also wanted to enquire about Sinha’s health after he had been away for a few days. He added that several matters required discussion and consultation with the Lieutenant Governor.
The Chief Minister also expressed concern over pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir and other states who have been stranded in Saudi Arabia amid flight cancellations and a sharp rise in airfares linked to the situation in the Middle East.
He said the government was taking up the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs, noting that the steep increase in ticket prices had made it difficult for some pilgrims to arrange their return journeys, particularly those who had already booked tickets.
Omar assured that the Jammu and Kashmir government would provide financial assistance from its own budget to bring back stranded pilgrims who could not afford the cost of their return tickets.
On the regulation of dentists, the Chief Minister said the issue required examination to establish whether the relevant powers fell under the Lieutenant Governor’s administration or the elected government under the applicable rules of business. He suggested that the matter be taken up with Minister Sakina Itoo.
Responding to a question about the China border, Omar said the issue no longer fell within the jurisdiction of Jammu and Kashmir following the creation of Ladakh as a separate Union Territory. He advised those seeking information on the matter to approach the Ladakh Lieutenant Governor or the Union Government.
Asked about the BJP’s allegations concerning foreign funding for protests, Omar declined to comment, reiterating that he had already addressed questions about the proposed Cabinet expansion.
