CM Abdullah after taking Bandipora’s developmental review

Bandipora, June 17: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, along with his ministers and advisor, visited north Kashmir’s Bandipora today to review the pace of development and assess the progress of key initiatives across the district.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the Chief Minister detailed the agenda. “We reviewed the delivery of last year’s plan for Bandipora,” he said.

“We discussed where the shortcomings were and where improvements were needed.”

He noted that local representatives, including the MLAs from Gurez, Bandipora, and Sonawari, “put forward the people’s expectations regarding their constituencies, the demands, and areas where things need to be fixed.”

Addressing these concerns, he stated, “They have been assured that we will do whatever is possible from our end.”

A key issue raised during the visit was the Bandipora District Hospital, which shifted to a new building in 2019 but has not yet received official District Hospital status. The Chief Minister confirmed the issue was discussed, noting, “This matter has been brought up.” 

He added that Minister Sakina Itoo, who joined the meeting virtually from Jammu, “has assured the Honorable MLA and the others that wherever anything remains to be done, it will all be completed by her department.”

When asked about recent national political developments involving the DMK and Shiv Sena, the Chief Minister chose to keep the focus on local matters. “Neither you nor I can answer this question,” he said. 

“Now, standing here in Bandipora, how can I tell you what the DMK or Shiv Sena people will do? That is up to them; that is up to their conscience. They will go as far as their conscience allows them to.”

He clarified his own party’s stance, adding, “As far as National Conference MPs are concerned, we will never support this thing. What the rest will do, what can I say about that?”