SRINAGAR: Jammu Kashmir’s National Conference government will provide 200 units of free electricity to the people of Jammu and Kashmir from March next year, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced during an interview with a Delhi news channel. The move aligns with a key promise in the party’s election manifesto. Abdullah emphasised that the government’s current priority is to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the harsh winter months when demand is at its peak.
“We will provide free units of electricity to the people from March next year. Presently, in the harsh winters, our focus is to give maximum electricity supply to the people,” he said. The initiative is expected to provide significant relief to households in the region, where energy demands surge during winter.
On the issue of employment, Abdullah revealed that many government vacancies have been referred to recruitment agencies. He assured that all promises made by the National Conference during its election campaign would be fulfilled within five years. “We will fulfil all promises made to the people in five years and produce our record to the people before seeking votes next time,” he said.
Responding to criticism from the BJP about dynasty politics, Abdullah dismissed the remarks as political hypocrisy. He pointed out that the BJP overlooks dynasties within its allied parties while attacking opposition families. “The BJP only seems to oppose political dynasties when it’s convenient. They have no issues with dynastic politics among their allies,” he remarked, highlighting what he called a double standard in the BJP’s stance.
The discussion on dynasty politics also touched on Abdullah’s own family, which has been a prominent political force in Jammu and Kashmir for generations. When asked whether his sons, Zamir and Zahir, who have recently entered public discourse with political commentary, might follow the family’s political legacy, Abdullah said any success they achieve would have to be earned. “Whatever space they choose to carve out, they will have to make for themselves. Nobody is going to give them anything on a plate,” he said. He added that political lineage does not guarantee a lasting advantage, drawing on his own experience of losing a parliamentary election earlier this year but later reclaiming his position in the Assembly.
Reflecting on his family’s history and political legacy, Abdullah noted the contributions of his grandfather Sheikh Abdullah, the founding father of post-independence Jammu and Kashmir, and his father Farooq Abdullah, who served as Chief Minister for several decades. Despite this, he said, family connections alone are not enough to sustain a political career. “Belonging to a political family is not a lifelong ticket for success,” he said.
Abdullah also stressed the importance of having a fallback plan outside politics, citing his own experience of being out of power between 2018 and 2024. “As elected representatives, we are basically glorified daily wagers. We are here today; we will probably not be there tomorrow,” he said. He urged his sons to pursue independent careers, saying, “You need something to fall back on.”
Drawing parallels with other fields such as acting and sports, Abdullah remarked that while family connections might provide an initial platform, long-term success depends on personal merit. “Some get recognised initially, but if you can’t perform, no one will carry you,” he said.
