CM Omar Abdullah relies on humour to press for J&K statehood | India News
KATRA: While praising the inaugural train service from Katra to Srinagar, CM Omar Abdullah on Friday humorously reminded PM Narendra Modi about restoring J&K’s statehood, noting that he is now the CM of a Union Territory – a “demotion” from his previous role as CM of a state.Speaking at a public event after PM flagged off two Vande Bharat trains connecting Katra with Srinagar, Abdullah said, “During my last tenure, as a matter of coincidence, the same four people were present here in 2014 when the Katra railway station was inaugurated… While then MoS (railways), Manoj Sinha, got promoted as J&K Lt Governor, I got demoted from CM of a state to CM of a UT. But things will get back to normal before we know it, and J&K will be given the status of a state by PM Modi,” he said.He said PM connected the Valley with the rest of India, a project that even the Britishers couldn’t do. He also credited former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee for the project. CM said the train operation to Srinagar will benefit all and will also put an end to “loot” by airline operators.
