Srinagar, Oct 2026 : The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) on Thursday defended the performance of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s government over the past two years, asserting that it had delivered progress across education, healthcare, horticulture, tourism and agriculture despite limited powers, bureaucratic hurdles and the constraints of the Union Territory framework.
In a statement issued in Srinagar, National Conference additional general secretary and Member of Parliament Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan said the government had used its mandate to serve the people, protect democratic rights and advance the development of Jammu and Kashmir. However, he maintained that an unequal distribution of powers and administrative bottlenecks had slowed several important decisions.
Ramzan said the government had acted on key political commitments soon after assuming office. During the first session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, the National Conference introduced a resolution seeking the restoration of the region’s special status. A separate resolution demanding the restoration of statehood was approved by the Cabinet, subsequently placed before the Assembly and passed by a substantial majority.
According to Ramzan, these resolutions conveyed a clear message to the Union government that the people of Jammu and Kashmir wanted their constitutional and democratic rights restored.
He added that a recent Assembly resolution had also recalled the 2000 autonomy resolution and the demand for the restoration of special status, urging the Centre to fulfil its constitutional and political responsibilities towards the region.
The National Conference leader said the government had taken several measures to provide relief to people across education, electricity, social welfare, employment, transport, healthcare and infrastructure.
In the education sector, the decision to restore the October-November academic calendar, replacing the March-session schedule, was taken in response to a longstanding demand from students, parents and educational institutions. Ramzan described the passage of the Private Universities Bill in the Assembly as another significant step towards strengthening higher education.
On the reservation policy, he said the government had completed its work to address perceived disparities and concerns surrounding the existing framework. The relevant file had been forwarded for approval but remained pending with the Lieutenant Governor’s office, he said.
Ramzan also highlighted an increase in financial assistance for poor and needy families for marriage-related expenses. The amount has been raised from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000, according to the statement.
He cited the introduction of free bus services for women, students and persons with disabilities as another example of people-oriented governance, aimed at improving accessibility and reducing the financial burden on beneficiaries.
Addressing the concerns of daily-wage workers and other temporary employees, Ramzan said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had constituted a committee to examine their grievances and recommend measures to address them.
However, he expressed disappointment that the committee had failed to submit its report within the stipulated six-month period. The report had still not been made public even after a year, he said, arguing that the delay illustrated how administrative obstacles under the Union Territory system could impede the resolution of public grievances.
The National Conference leader also pointed to the government’s decision to offer eligible employees covered by the National Pension System (NPS) an option to shift to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). He said the move had provided considerable relief to thousands of employees.
On power supply, Ramzan said the administration had continued efforts to improve electricity availability while strengthening basic infrastructure across the region. He added that the government was working to improve public transport and civic facilities.
The introduction of smart bus services in all districts was described as an important step towards modernising public transportation and providing citizens with more convenient travel options. Projects relating to roads, drinking water supply, drainage, healthcare and other essential infrastructure were also underway, he said.
Ramzan maintained that the government’s performance should be assessed in the context of the powers available to it under the Union Territory arrangement. While acknowledging that administrative and institutional constraints had affected the pace of some initiatives, he said the National Conference remained committed to fulfilling its electoral promises and improving public services.
The statement reflects the party’s effort to highlight its political commitments and governance initiatives while reiterating its demand for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and greater constitutional authority. The government’s claims on individual schemes and their implementation will ultimately need to be assessed against official records and independently verifiable outcomes.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
