| With NC leadership treading cautiously, Centre poised for generous funding to J&K | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 12: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah ahead of the upcoming budget session has sparked intense debate.
While opposition parties have sharply criticized the interaction, political analysts see it as a clear indication that the BJP-led central government is willing to provide generous financial assistance to the National Conference (NC) government, as long as it continues to focus on economic and developmental issues rather than politically sensitive matters.
Reliable sources suggest that the Union government has no major objections to the NC government in Jammu and Kashmir, provided it refrains from raising contentious demands such as the restoration of Article 370 and Article 35-A. The BJP-led Centre has maintained a firm stance on these issues, asserting that the abrogation of the special status is irreversible. As long as the state administration under Omar Abdullah focuses on governance, infrastructure, and social welfare, the Centre appears willing to extend its support through liberal funding.
This development comes at a crucial time for the region, as J&K continues to grapple with economic challenges, unemployment, and social welfare concerns. Over the past four months since assuming office, the NC-led administration has carefully avoided any confrontational stance against the Union government. Instead, it has prioritized budgetary allocations for public welfare schemes, infrastructure development, and employment generation programs—key areas where financial support from New Delhi is indispensable.
However, the opposition, including the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and other regional players, has not taken kindly to this apparent political realignment.
Leaders from these parties have accused the NC of softening its long-held stance on J&K’s special status in exchange for financial support.
Critics argue that the National C The BJP-led central government is willing to provide generous financial assistance to the NC regime, as long as it continues to focus on economic and developmental issues.
This development comes at a crucial time for the region, as J&K continues to grapple with economic challenges, unemployment, and social welfare concerns.
The NC government has carefully avoided any confrontational stance against the Union government. Instead, it has prioritized public welfare schemes.
The opposition, including PDP have accused the NC of softening its long-held stance on J&K’s special status in exchange for financial support.
Senior PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti has termed the meeting between Omar Abdullah and Amit Shah as a “betrayal of the people’s mandate,” alleging that the NC government is sacrificing the aspirations of J&K’s people for the sake of maintaining good relations with the BJP-led Centre.
Despite the criticism, the NC government appears to be treading cautiously, focusing on economic issues while steering clear of any confrontation with New Delhi.
Over the past 120 days, Omar Abdullah’s administration has worked to project itself as a pragmatic government committed to development rather than ideological battles.
Government insiders suggest that the Chief Minister is keen on securing substantial financial assistance in the upcoming budget session to tackle pressing social issues, including poverty alleviation, youth employment, healthcare improvements, and rural development. The administration is also looking to fast-track several pending infrastructure projects that require central funding. This evolving political dynamic between the NC government and the BJP-led Centre could have far-reaching implications for Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape. If the financial support from New Delhi translates into tangible development, the ruling party could strengthen its position ahead of future elections.
As the budget session approaches, all eyes will be on how the Centre responds to the NC government’s financial requests and whether the ruling party continues to navigate this delicate political balance without provoking opposition backlash.
The coming months will be crucial in determining whether this understanding between the J&K government and the Centre remains intact or whether pressure from opposition forces leads to a shift in strategy. |
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