Will deliver strong political message after Eid festival, says J&K CM Omar Abdullah

Srinagar:J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday that he would deliver a big political message after the Eid festival as he wanted to “burst like a cloudburst”.

Addressing a function in the Tangmarg area of Baramulla district, Omar Abdullah said he was exercising restraint for the moment as the occasion today did not permit a political address.

He said he would deliver a strong political message after the Eid festival and added that he was “holding himself back, but would burst like a cloudburst”.

The Eid festival falls on May 28, and sources said Omar Abdullah is planning to hold a big public gathering after it gets over.

Focusing on the youth, the Chief Minister said students are central to Jammu and Kashmir’s future and that the government is working to strengthen education, employment and economic opportunities.

He highlighted the lack of adequate private universities in the region, forcing families to send children outside Jammu and Kashmir at high financial cost. To address this, he said the government has passed a Private University Bill and that rules for its implementation are being framed. He expressed hope that private universities would come up across the region, with places like Tangmarg offering favourable conditions.

Omar Abdullah acknowledged that government jobs alone cannot address unemployment, but said a target has been set to provide 20,000 to 25,000 government jobs this year to provide relief.

He also highlighted self-employment initiatives such as Mission Yuva, aimed at improving access to loans for young entrepreneurs, including those in tourism and small businesses.

Skill development programmes are being expanded to align training with market needs, he added. The Chief Minister said the broader goal is to build a self-reliant Jammu and Kashmir with strong local economic foundations, creating opportunities within the region and reducing long-term dependence on the centre.

The Chief Minister has also dismissed rumours about any dissension brewing within the ruling National Conference, adding that nobody is going to leave the party.

–IANS