Omar determined to create new administrative units in Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah asserted that he was set on creating new administrative units in the state despite a scheduled meeting of the cabinet to discuss the issue being postponed at the last minute Friday allegedly due to differences between the ruling alliance partners.

The cabinet was scheduled to meet here to discuss the recommendations of the cabinet sub-committee on the creation of new administrative units including tehsil offices, naib-tehsil offices, block development offices etc across the state.

Informed sources told IANS the meeting was postponed because of serious differences over the proposed administrative units between the ruling National Conference and the Congress party.

Many Congress leaders have been saying the recommendations of the cabinet sub-committee are discriminatory against the Jammu and the Ladakh regions and favour the Kashmir Valley.

Abdullah however said he is determined to go ahead at any cost.

He tweeted that the sub-committee members had met him Friday to request a week's time to complete their recommendations before these are taken up by the state cabinet for discussion.

"The cabinet sub committee for new administrative units met me requesting one last week more to complete their recommendations.

"While I rather reluctantly gave them this one week I've told them there will be no other cabinet agenda taken up and no further extension.

"It's unfortunate that this exercise has taken since June but I'm determined to complete this important public demand no matter what," he said.

The state cabinet meeting has now been rescheduled for Feb 1.