Srinagar: The expansion of the Jammu and Kashmir council of ministers will take place once Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha returns to the Valley, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said on Monday, linking the delay to Sinha's health. He was speaking to reporters in Budgam district.
"The Lieutenant Governor was not well. He was sick. When the Lieutenant Governor comes, there will be an expansion of the government," Abdullah said. Asked about reports that the L-G could nominate five members to the Assembly, he said there was no clarity and dismissed them as speculation. On talk that NC MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi might resign, he said the decision rested with the parliamentarian.
The NC-led government under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah completed two years in office on October 16, but there has been no expansion of his council of ministers. The NC had offered its ally, the Congress, a cabinet berth, but the party declined to join the government, choosing instead to extend support from outside until full statehood is restored to Jammu and Kashmir.
Abdullah also criticised the delay in restoring statehood. "The Central Government had promised that statehood would be restored after the Assembly elections. The elections were held nearly two years ago. What has happened to that promise?" he asked. He said NC MPs had met the Union Home Minister in January and were assured that business rules defining the powers of the L-G and the elected government would be introduced, but ten months on they had not been.