Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Chief Tariq Hameed Karra said on Wednesday that the Congress party is not joining any Ministry in newly formed J-K government “at the moment” as despite repeated promises made by Prime Minister for statehood, it has not been restored.
In a statement, the JKPCC Chief said, “Congress Party is not joining the Ministry in Jammu and Kashmir government at the moment. Congress has strongly demanded from the Centre to restore Statehood to J-K, besides the Prime Minister has time and again in public meetings promised the same. But the Statehood has not been restored to J-K.”
“We are unhappy therefore we are not joining the Ministry at the moment. Congress Party shall continue to fight for restoration of Statehood,” JKPCC Chief Tariq Hameed Karra said.
Meanwhile, National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. L-G Manoj Saxena administered the oath of office to Abdullah and his council of ministers at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.
National Conference MLA from Mendhar Javed Ahmed Rana, Javid Ahmad Dar from Rafiabad, Sakina Itoo from DH Pora and Surinder Kumar Chowdhary were also administered oath by LG Sinha as ministers in Cabinet. Independent MLA from Chhamb assmebly seat Satish Sharma was given a place in Omar Abdullah-led cabinet.