Zahid Wani

Srinagar, Oct 26 (KNS): With the cabinet expansion and reshuffle in Jammu and Kashmir nearing finalisation, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday evening personally reached out to Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra in a final attempt to secure the Congress's participation in his ministry, but the party declined the offer and asked him to fill the berth kept vacant for it.

Speaking exclusively to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Karra confirmed that the Chief Minister called him to ascertain the Congress's final position on joining the Council of Ministers as the government prepares to move ahead with the long-awaited expansion.

Karra said the Chief Minister renewed his offer of a cabinet berth to the Congress, which has remained outside the ministry since the formation of the National Conference-led government.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

However, he said the party had made its position clear earlier and there was no question of reconsidering it until Jammu and Kashmir's statehood was restored.

Karra said that the Congress would not compromise its political stand on statehood for the sake of a single ministerial berth.

According to Karra, the Chief Minister also sought to know whether the Congress intended to take the berth reserved for it or whether he should proceed to fill the vacancy during the forthcoming expansion.

Karra said he conveyed that the Chief Minister was free to fill the berth, reiterating that the Congress would not join the cabinet under the present circumstances.(KNS)