photon game From Media Freedom To Journalist Detentions: Omar Breaks 6-Year 'Tradition' With First Press Conference

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Photo: PTI Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Photo: PTI

In Jammu and Kashmir, where the government has been selectively inviting journalists for press conferences and media interactions, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah broke the six-year-old norm on Thursday by holding an open interaction with reportersphoton game, regardless of their accreditation status.

During the interaction, Omar promised to restore the Kashmir Press Club, which was shut down by the Estates Department three years ago, and committed to reviewing the cases of journalists currently in detention.

As Omar Abdullah addressed the first ever press conference after he took over as chief minister, he said, “My wish would be to see a free and open media, to see media that is able to report facts on the ground without any interference, without any pull and without any pressure, without any phone.”  

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The Chief Minister’s statement indicates the state of media, particularly local press in the valley, which had fallen silent after abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

From the color of his topi, the restoration of statehood, and his interactions with Aga Ruhullah Mehdi to the Congress's role in his government- the chief minister, along with his cabinet colleagues, engaged with the media on a wide range of topics and insisted that he had no pressure from the central government and the BJP.

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He said that the media should report freely. “Nobody here has been told what they can or cannot ask. Nobody has been handed a slip of paper with pre-approved questions. You are free to raise whatever issues you like. Whether I can answer them or not is another matter”, he said.

Reminding on the change in Jammu and Kashmir’s status from a state to a Union Territory, Omar said there was a stark difference between his tenure from 2008 to 2015 and the present governance framework.

“There is a huge difference between that government and this government,” he said. “It is important to understand where our responsibility begins and where the Raj Bhavan's responsibility ends,” Omar said.

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He said his government has started off in a good way and it has remained committed to the promises they have made before the elections. “We will not go back on the promises on the basis of which people allowed us to form the government and gave us the mandate”, he added.

He described the Union Territory status of Jammu and Kashmir as a temporary phase. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir participated in the October elections in large numbers, earning praise from the country’s leaders. Now, the residents are hopeful for something in return-the restoration of statehood, which was the biggest promise made to them,” he said.

“We hope it won’t take much longer,” Omar said.

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While referring to the Supreme Court’s observations on restoration of statehood when the Court delivered judgment on Article 370, he said, “the Court had insisted that statehood should be restored as soon as possible. It has been a year since that statement, and we believe one year is enough for ‘as soon as possible.’ Jammu and Kashmir should be granted statehood without further delay.”

About the land sought by various institutions, he said, “We want to protect our land as we cannot create more of it.” He emphasized that non-productive land should be prioritized for development projects.

Referring to the proposed NIT in Pulwama, he said, “If the people of Pulwama don’t want the NIT there, it can be relocated. If we can find a place for a central university in summer, we can surely find a place for an NIT elsewhere if not in Pulwama.”

Addressing the protest led by Aga Ruhullah Mehdi outside his residence, he remarked, “There is democracy in my party, and everyone has the right to speak. I have always said that the National Conference is a democratic organization, and every member is entitled to their opinion.” He said there were times in Kashmir when people were frightened over thinking of protests and the MP protested outside the residence of the Chief Minister.

He, however, said that in the upcoming session of Parliament, there should be a collective demand for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood from the NC MP Ruhullah Mehdi involving other parties and MPs.

On the issue of reservation, he revealed that a cabinet sub-committee has been formed to address it.

“The committee is expected to complete its work within six months. Simultaneously, the High Court has begun hearings on the matter. But I believe that whether you belong to the open or reserved category, the greater danger today is that our jobs and our land are not safeguarded for us. First, we need to secure our jobs and land. Only then can we continue fighting for reservation. I fear that while we debate reserved and open spaces here, people from outside will come for these jobs. Then what will you do?”, the CM asked.

About whether the BJP had resolved the Kashmir issue permanently, he said, “When the BJP claims that the Kashmir issue has been resolved forever, should we assume that the part of Jammu and Kashmir beyond the LoC has also been resolved? Clearly, it hasn’t. The Kashmir issue remains, whether on this side of the border or the other. We can debate its aspects, but the issue has not been resolved forever.” “We want it to be resolved.”

About the challenges people face due to police verification for government job appointments, Omar said it was outside his jurisdiction in the present set up but he has discussed the issue with the CID chief.

“I’ve long maintained that a militant’s son is not a militant,” he said. “During my first term as Chief Minister, we consciously ended the practice of blacklisting. Right now, we can only offer counsel, but I believe there has been some relief. More will be done for them once we regain statehood,” he added.

As more questions were asked about his relations with Aga Ruhullah Mehdi after he protested outside the Chief Minister’s residence over the issue of reservations, Omar said, “I don’t have that kind of relationship with him where I wake up and say good morning to him and, in the evening, I say good evening to him. He protested outside my residence, and that’s fine. I hope he will have a similar protest during the budget session in the Parliament for the restoration of statehood.”

As the press conference began with freedom of the press, the last question was about the detention of journalists Majid Hyderi and Irfan Mehraj to which Omar said, “We will look into that matter.”

Irfan Mehraj, a freelance journalistphoton game, was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2023 while Majid Hyderi was arrested on September 15, 2023. Both are lodged in different jails.