Budgam: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) president Farooq Abdullah has said the expansion of the Jammu and Kashmir Council of Ministers will take place after Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha returns to the Valley.
Speaking to reporters in Budgam, Dr. Abdullah said the Cabinet expansion would take place once the Lieutenant Governor was back, as he was not present. He was speaking on Monday.
He said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had called for strict action to prevent the recurrence of such incidents and had sought compensation for the damage caused in an attack. "Certain miscreants were attempting to disturb peace and create turmoil in the country, and the matter required immediate attention from the authorities," he said, according to a news agency report.
Dr. Abdullah said the Chief Minister had also urged the Central Government to take cognisance of the incident, warning that the situation could deteriorate if such incidents were not addressed promptly.
The remarks come as the National Conference-led government settles into office, with the timing of the much-awaited expansion of the Council of Ministers still to be finalised. The Council's composition and the allocation of portfolios are being watched closely in the Union Territory's political circles.
The National Conference has not announced a date for the expansion. Dr. Abdullah's statement is the clearest indication so far that the exercise is tied to the Lieutenant Governor's schedule and return to the Valley.