SRINAGAR: Chief minister Omar Abdullah fretted Tuesday about “discrimination” in distribution of assets after the 2019 bifurcation of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state into Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
Lawmakers of Omar’s National Conference (NC) members argue that J&K UT has been given far less assets in Delhi, Chandigarh and other regions. But Omar, speaking in the assembly, vowed to take a reconciliatory route to resolve the issue.
“Five years ago, J&K and Ladakh got separated. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were separated long ago (2014) but they are still engaged in disputes over assets in courts, spending huge amounts of money,” Omar said while responding to a question.
The CM made it clear his govt would not go down the Andhra-Telangana path. “We want to resolve asset issues with Ladakh through consensus and through give and take,” Omar said. He acknowledged such a reconciliatory approach might be criticised in J&K and Ladakh but insisted it was the only way to solve it.
After the abrogation of Article 370, assets between J&K and Ladakh were apportioned on the recommendations of an advisory committee constituted by the Centre under J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019.
A key sticking point has been liabilities of the erstwhile state amounting to Rs 2,504.46 crore and how it should be shared between UTs of Ladakh and J&K. Omar’s govt has taken up the matter with the Union home ministry and Ladakh administration.
About properties of the erstwhile state in Delhi, Omar said J&K got far less than Ladakh. “We are working on settling the issue. We have acquired land in Dwarka, where we plan to construct a new J&K Bhawan,” he said.
According to the CM, J&K House on Delhi’s Prithviraj Road has vacant land and a new building will be constructed there for visiting MLAs. In Chandigarh, Omar pointed out that the govt already owns a building that will be modified to provide proper accommodation for J&K patients travelling to the city’s PGIMER.
