Srinagar, Oct 24 (HS): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is known to be outspoken on every issue, has not, contrary to his usual practice, taken questions from reporters while interacting with the media over the past few days.

He is apparently trying to avoid questions on the panchayat and municipal elections in the neighbouring Union Territory of Ladakh, the reasons why such elections have not yet been held in Jammu and Kashmir, and the expected expansion or reshuffle of the cabinet.

A journalist wrote in a Facebook post: “Second day, three events, and a bar on asking questions beyond the events. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is avoiding questions from media persons from last two days over political and other issues. His restriction on questions beyond events indicates he wants more air to speculations and grapevine over cabinet reshuffle and beyond.”

BJP leader and spokesperson Altaf Thakur told Hindusthan Samachar that a cabinet expansion is likely expected today. On the panchayat elections, he said the National Conference wants power to remain confined to its MLAs.

“I don’t think they are in favour of holding panchayat elections here in the near future. The reason is that the National Conference does not want powers to be devolved to the grassroots. They want whatever governance there is to remain limited to their MLAs,” he said.

Thakur claimed that whenever panchayat elections are held in Jammu and Kashmir, the NC could face a big setback. “People are very angry with them. They have not fulfilled a single promise. They have failed to live up to the people’s expectations,” he said.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson Firdous Tak told Hindusthan Samachar that the National Conference has spent the last two years either praising Prime Minister Modi or highlighting its good relations with the Centre. “As far as their election promises are concerned, none of them has been fulfilled so far. That is why they have no answers to questions,” he said.

Tak said the National Conference has a history of wanting to be the Centre’s favourite. He said that, far from confronting the Centre, its leaders appear to be shy even of demanding the rights of the people here.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Zahoor Hussain Bhat