SRINAGAR: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that he will be vacating the government accommodation at Gupkar by end of October.
My letter to the J&K administration. I will be vacating my government accommodation in Srinagar before the end of October. The point to note is that contrary to stories planted in the media last year I received no notice to vacate & have chosen to do so of my own accord. pic.twitter.com/dWjDacVoHn
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) September 9, 2020
Taking to social networking site Twitter, Omar wrote: “My letter to the J&K administration. I will be vacating my government accommodation in Srinagar before the end of October. The point to note is that contrary to stories planted in the media last year I received no notice to vacate & have chosen to do so of my own accord.”
In a letter to Administrative Secretary Estates, Hospitality & Protocol, Govt of Jammu & Kashmir Srinagar, Omar wrot, “this is with reference to government accommodation on Gupkar road, Srinagar. I was allotted house G-1 in 2002 in my capacity as Member of Parliament representing Srinagar constituency. Subsequent to my election as CM in 2008, the adjoining house was renovated and the complex of G-1 and G-5 was used as the official CM residence from October 2010 onwards. I continued to remain in occupation of this accommodation subsequent to my demitting the office of CM in January 2015, as the rules allowed for me to retain an accommodation in Srinagar or Jammu and I chose to retain an accommodation in Srinagar.”
“Consequent upon the change of entitlements for former CMs of J&K. some months ago, I now find myself in unauthorised occupation of this accommodation, as no attempt has been made to regularise the allotment to me on security or other grounds. This is a situation that is unacceptable to me. I have never held on to any government property I was not entitled to and 1 have no intention to start now,” Omar wrote.
“This is to inform you that 1 have begun the search for a suitable alternate accommodation. The process is taking longer because of the constraints caused by COVID-19. I intend to complete the process in 8-10 weeks and should be in a position to hand over the Gupkar road accommodation accordingly,”Omar wrote in a letter to Administrative Secretary Estates, Hospitality & Protocol, Govt of Jammu & Kashmir Srinagar.
