New Delhi, Feb 21: Terming the first budget of Jammu and Kashmir a good start, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said that the National Conference government will try its best to live up to the expectations of the people.
“I know all the issues cannot be resolved in the first Budget, but it would be a good beginning to lay the foundation and move ahead.”
Earlier, addressing a gathering at the 18th CII Annual Tourism Summit in the national capital, Omar Abdullah asked the people associated with industries and other businesses to give suggestions and inputs to him for the upcoming budget.
“If there are inputs or suggestions you would like to give to make your lives easier as entrepreneurs, industrialists, investors, and business people, then this is the time to do it.”
He said, “This is the time when we are now sitting down to write the budget that I will have to read out in the Assembly on March 7.”
“Right now, we are operating on a blank slate. You have nothing really to judge me by. Whatever I have is what I inherited four months ago. Now, it is the time when I start to put my stamp of this elected government on the policy, on the framework, and on the way forward,” he said.
“This is the point from which my assessment time starts. Therefore, I request the people interested to give me your suggestions and inputs,” he said while assuring that none of them (suggestions) will go unread and unconsidered. “Those that we can begin with implementing immediately within the current framework that we have, I assure you we will.”
Pertinently, the Chief Minister held pre-budget consultations with public representatives, traders, the business community, and others across Jammu and Kashmir.
The budget session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly is scheduled to start on March 3, 2025; the administration has issued directives to all departments to appoint nodal officers and establish question cells at the departmental level.
The last budget session of the J&K Legislative Assembly was held in January-February 2018. The session holds particular significance as it is going to be the first budget session since the collapse of the Mehbooba Mufti-led government in June 2018, following the BJP’s withdrawal from its alliance with the PDP. Subsequently, President’s and Governor’s rule were imposed, leading to the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories—J&K and Ladakh—in August 2019.
Meanwhile, the heads of departments have been instructed to nominate nodal officers and set- up question cells to provide timely and accurate responses during the session. The order also mandates that all government employees remain stationed at their respective offices throughout the session to ensure smooth proceedings.
“No officer or official shall leave their station without prior approval during the session to ensure the smooth conduct of proceedings,” reads the order. It further stated that administrative secretaries and heads of departments must ensure compliance with these directives.
Reports indicate that 82 out of 90 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) have submitted nearly 800 questions and 80 private members’ bills. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly had instructed each MLA to submit 20 questions—10 in the starred and 10 in the unstarred categories—along with three private member’s bills.
However, certain restrictions have been imposed on asking questions during the session. Written questions related to All India Services, including IAS, police, law and order, and security matters, will not be permitted unless the Speaker allows them under special circumstances. Additionally, debates on issues concerning All India Services will also be excluded.