Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said that the statehood was needed to release the prisoners “because as of now, the security, policing and law and order are under the central government and is looked after by the LG”.
responding to query about the release of prisoners as was promised in the ruling National Conference’s election manifesto, Abdullah However said whenever he has talked to the police administration, he has asked them to reconsider the issues of the prisoners, especially the issue of verification “for which people are harassed”.
“I have said it in my assembly speech that the verification process has been weaponised. It has now been stopped to a large extent and there will be more flexibility in it in the future.
“But, as far as the release of the prisoners is concerned, we are working on the restoration of the statehood right since the first day because we know there are some things on which the people want some progress, which cannot be done in a UT,” he said.
On the power curtailment in the Kashmir Valley, Abdullah said he met with the Union power minister in Delhi and an additional quota for J-K was sanctioned.
“But, we have to be ready for some curtailment in the winters. I have told the department to decrease the power cuts and shedding wherever there is less power theft and electricity charges are being paid. I hope there is improvement in the situation this winter,” he said.
Earlier, Abdullah laid the foundation stone of a hi-tech floral nursery expansion project and Bagh-e-Gule Dawood (a Chrysanthemum theme garden) here through the virtual mode.
‘Statehood Needed To Release Prisons’
