Excerpts

KNS: There are voices, especially from Mehbooba Mufti and others asking why you’re not resigning if you feel powerless. What’s your response?

Omar: Resign? Why? What for? Did Mehbooba Mufti resign in 2016 when people were dying on the streets? At that time, her administration spoke of milk and toffees instead of accountability. She never apologised. Today, the BJP disrespected her and showed her the door, and she still clings to that chair. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have given me a five-year mandate. Why should I abandon it mid-way? Five-year promises are fulfilled in five years, not in five days, weeks, or months.

KNS: Some critics say you're being emotional. Others say you’re ineffective despite having 50 seats. Is the CM’s chair weaker now?

CM: Emotional? Maybe. But tell me what that means when people say I'm weak because I refuse to shout for the sake of shouting. Yes, we have 50 seats. But I won't misuse them. I respect the Centre where respect is due. If the Prime Minister’s office grants us ?10,600 crore for roads and tunnels, why shouldn't I acknowledge that? Has the Prime Minister ever disrespected me? No.
But make no mistake, being respectful doesn’t mean being silent. Look at what happened in the cricket stadium. The CM’s seat was ignored entirely. Did the late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed protest? No. Was that not weakening the chair?

KNS: What’s your take on the latest buzz that another election might be needed to restore statehood?

CM: That’s a planted story, nothing more. It’s aimed at scaring the 90 sitting MLAs into silence, to accept a full five-year term without statehood. Let me say this clearly: We are not scared. If tomorrow, under the Constitution, it’s necessary to hold another election to get statehood back, I will walk to Raj Bhavan myself and dissolve this Assembly. But the Centre must first fulfill its promise, grant statehood.
The BJP promised this in their manifesto. Home Minister said it in Parliament. Prime Minister said it too. Did anyone say another election would be required? No. This story, pushed by some people in Srinagar through newspapers, is just an attempt to create confusion and delay. But we won’t let that happen.

KNS: Your opponents accuse you of being silent on big issues. What would you say?

CM: Silent? Really? What was the first thing this Assembly passed? A resolution demanding special status. We knew it could cost us our government, yet we did it. In the very first cabinet meeting, we passed a resolution for the return of statehood. That’s silence?
Those accusing us made alliances with the BJP, claimed they’d build tunnels and bring prosperity, but didn’t deliver. We passed resolutions. They passed the blame. Let people judge who was silent.

KNS: Let’s shift to development. There’s growing concern about tourism, especially after the Pahalgam incident. What’s your strategy?

CM: After the tragic incident in Pahalgam, there was an obvious drop in tourist arrivals, Kashmir and Jammu were nearly empty. But things are slowly improving. Last month, hotels had two or three bookings. Now they have 30, 40, even 50.
We’ve instructed the tourism department to participate in every major promotional fair, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad. We’re trying to rebuild trust and momentum.
But here’s the issue, how can we expect tourists to feel safe when locals themselves are afraid to visit places like Gulmarg? Gondola is open, but just 50 feet away, everything is shut. We need courage not shutdowns. In my six years as tourism minister, we never closed places like Drung or Aru, not even in difficult times. We did security reviews, not lockdowns.

KNS: You’ve been in office for 10 months now. People are asking: what has changed? Are they disappointed?

CM: Disappointed in what? This is not magic. The same people asking this should ask the Centre what’s holding back statehood. Still, we’ve delivered, improved electricity this year, approved ?10,600 crore in connectivity and infrastructure. The special status resolution is in place. We're trying. But the Centre has to act too.
Let me assure the people: the promises we made are still our priority. And we’re not giving up.

KNS: What’s your message to those who say your government isn’t doing enough to push for statehood?

CM: We’re not short on effort. But let’s be honest that statehood is not within the Assembly’s power. It’s the prerogative of the central government. If the Centre only wants to restore statehood to a BJP-led government, let them say so publicly. I will personally vacate the chair and welcome a BJP CM if that’s what it takes for our people to regain their statehood.
But don’t mislead people with vague statements. The promise was clear: elections first, then statehood. We’ve completed elections. Now fulfill the second part. Don’t shift the goalposts by floating theories that statehood requires fresh elections.
Some are trying to scare the 90 MLAs into thinking their term would be cut short. Let me say it clearly, if you tell me constitutionally that fresh elections are a must for statehood, I will dissolve the Assembly myself. But don’t play games with people's trust.

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KNS: Some accuse your government of weakening its mandate by not asserting its 50-seat majority.

CM: That’s absolutely false. This mandate is alive, active, and being used responsibly. We passed the special status resolution in the Assembly, something even journalists like you didn’t expect. Where was the courage to do that during BJP-PDP rule?
People say I praise the Prime Minister but that’s twisting facts. Yes, I thanked him when he helped us with ?10,600 crore for infrastructure and ?5,500 crore for salaries. But have I ever surrendered our rights? Never. Gratitude isn’t weakness. it’s governance.
Let me remind them when the PM ignored the CM in a cricket stadium, the late Mufti Sahib didn’t resign. Why demand that I do so now? He saw milk and toffee in 2016. I’ve seen pain and commitment.

KNS: Let’s talk about the reservation row. You referred the matter to the Law Department. Why the caution?

CM: Because I don’t want any of our cabinet’s decisions to get struck down by courts. This isn’t about politics, it’s about responsibility. Some parts of reservation fall under Parliament, others under us. We’re dealing with only what’s within our control.
We didn’t drag our feet. This is possibly the first time a sub-committee in J&K completed its work without asking for multiple extensions. Those who were silent during earlier quota increases are now speaking up after losing elections. That’s not bravery, that’s opportunism.
Mehbooba Mufti and Sajjad Lone were silent when the reservation quota was being tweaked. At that time, they were more interested in securing government accommodation and aligning with the LG. Now they cry foul?

KNS: Are you emotional in your politics? Some see that as a weakness.

CM: If speaking from the heart is a weakness, then yes I’m emotional. But it doesn’t stop me from acting firmly. My job is not to look tough on TV but to deliver on the ground.
After the Pahalgam tragedy, my ministers were at the hospital, attending to victims. After the Ramban cloudburst, we reached immediately to restore highway connectivity. That’s not drama. That’s governance.

KNS: Are you close to the BJP, as some allege?

CM: Let them show even one example where I aligned with the BJP ideologically. I haven’t. Acknowledging help from the central government for public welfare is not ideological surrender.
If we didn’t get ?5,500 crore extra for salaries, we wouldn’t have paid government employees in January, February, or March. Should I hide that? Is it “anti-Kashmir” to ensure people get their wages?

KNS: What are your expectations from the Centre now regarding statehood?

CM: The Centre has to decide whether their word means anything. Both the Prime Minister and Home Minister said statehood would follow elections. That’s their promise not mine.
If they go back on it now, they’re not just letting down J&K, they’re sending a message to the whole nation that constitutional assurances are meaningless. I believe they will fulfil it. And I urge them to do it soon.

KNS: Do you think confusion exists around the roles of the LG and elected government?

CM: That confusion is being cleared. The LG himself has stated clearly that his role is limited to security and law and order. The rest lies with us, the elected government.
From tourism development to roads, ration reforms to bus schemes, we’ve done the work. The Cabinet has also passed revised business rules. We’ve responded to LG’s queries. Now we expect him to sign and return them. That will remove any remaining ambiguity.

KNS: What’s the latest on open merit and reservation reforms?

CM: The Law Department is scrutinizing the sub-committee’s report. As soon as they clear it, it will go to Cabinet and then to the public. We want to do this right, not in haste.
People who were mute during earlier decisions are now raising voices. Why didn’t PDP leaders speak against the quota back when they needed Pahadi and Gujjar votes? Let’s be honest, they were scared.

KNS: How does this term as CM compare to your previous one in 2010?

CM: In 2010, I was heading a full state. Today, I govern under UT constraints. That’s the biggest difference. Still, we’ve managed to deliver more than many expected.
We’ve increased MLA CDFs by ?3-4 crore, restructured guidelines, and ensured development reaches every corner from CAPEX to grassroots projects. The system is working because the people are connected with their elected representatives.

KNS: A final word on expectations. Many still feel disillusioned.

CM: Despair is kufr, My father always said this. I believe in hope. Look at our actions: free travel for women on buses, improved electricity supply, ration hikes for the poor, education calendar reforms, and critical infrastructure projects.
We’ve been on the frontlines during every crisis floods, snow, terror attacks. Our ministers stood shoulder to shoulder with citizens. If that’s not effective governance, what is?
If people think the old LG-led system was better, they’re free to prefer that. But at least let’s be honest we’ve shown that elected government brings both accountability and empathy.

KNS: Thank You for Speaking with Kashmir News Service 

CM: Thank You.