SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra on Tuesday reiterated that the Congress would remain outside the Omar Abdullah-led government until statehood was restored to Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters outside Lok Bhavan in Srinagar after the Cabinet expansion, Karra said the party had maintained the same position for the past two years and saw no need to repeatedly justify its decision.
“The decision was taken today, and those selected took oath,” he said, referring to the induction of four National Conference legislators into the Council of Ministers.
Karra made it clear that the Congress would not accept a ministerial berth while Jammu and Kashmir continued to remain a Union Territory.
The Congress has stayed out of the government over the delay in restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
His remarks came after Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to four National Conference legislators, expanding Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s Council of Ministers.
