Budget Love Letter To People Of J&K: CM

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) Jammu- Chief Minister Omar Abdullah presented the Budget 2025-26, outlining key initiatives across multiple sectors, including hydropower, tourism.

While defending his government's vision, he also reiterated his strong stance against the Union Territory (UT) model in the Country.

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Omar Abdullah acknowledged the Opposition's expected criticism but described the Budget as a gift to the people of J&K.“I don't expect anything but criticism of this Budget from the Opposition... This Budget is a love letter to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

He said that he would never present the Budget again while observing Ramzan fast.

Abdullah said this was the first budget of the J&K Assembly after 2018 and his first Budget as the finance minister.

Read Also Omar Bets Big On Rs 1.12 Lakh Cr Budget Outlay J&K Budget: Power, Infrastructure, Jobs & Tourism In Focus

He presented the Budget in the Assembly and spoke without stopping for almost one hour and 45 minutes while observing the sixth day of Ramzan fast.

The chief minister said he could have advanced or postponed the Budget Session.

“After today's experience, I will never present my Budget again while having Ramadan fast. Either I will pre or postpone the session or request the Speaker with folded hands to arrange the session around 6.30 pm (after breaking the day-long fast),” Abdullah told a press conference here.

He was responding to a question about the difficulty in holding the Budget Session during the ongoing holy month of Ramzan, especially in presenting the Budget when one does not swallow even a drop of water.

The chief minister said he was facing difficulty in speaking after the Budget speech that continued for nearly one hour and forty-five minutes in the Assembly.

“Interestingly, this was also the first time that any chief minister of J&K presented the Budget himself while holding the portfolio of the finance minister,” Abdullah said.

The Chief Minister once again criticized the existing political structure of Jammu and Kashmir, calling it the“worst form of government” in the country.“I still maintain that a UT with an Assembly is by far the worst form of government in the country. I have no hesitation in saying this. There should only be two systems in this country-either you have a UT without an Assembly or a state,” he asserted.

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