The First Budget session of the Union territory jammu and Kashmir Assembly has commenced in Jammu with an opening address by the honrable Lieutenant Governor shri Manoj sinha,setting the tone for the session ,marking a vibrant milestone as the first budget to be presented by an elected government of Union territory in over seven years since February 2018 when PDP-BJP coalition Government’s finance minister Dr haseeb Drabu presented the last budget. This budget is to be presented by omar Abdullah who is also holding charge of finance minister, the previous budgets were presented and passed by parliament in absence of jk legislative Assembly
The center has allocated Rs 41000.07 crore to jammu and kashmir in the Union budget for fiscal year 2025-2026 . Additionally Since the special status of jammu and kashmir was scrapped the j&k Police is directly under the control of Union home ministry will recive 9325.73 crore seperate budget ,unveiled in the Union budget session presented by Honrable finance minister Nirmala sitaraman in Lok sabha
The allocation of union budget has been married with admiration and criticism , Congress leader G. Ahmad mir and NC spokesperson tanvir sadiq applauds that budget carries positive things .However many other politician from jammu and Kashmir criticized the recent budget for j&k The jammu and Kashmir pardesh congress committee chief Tariq hameed karra, JK PC ‘s Sajad Lone, and Waheed Ur Rehaman parra questioned the Reduction in budget comparing to last year by 1000 crore
The budget session in jammu and Kashmir begins with the adress of Honrable Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha after seven years introduced by elected members, in his key adress he highlighted the significance of budget and ensured some guarantees that government is commited to restore statehood, respectable return and Rehabilitation of Kashmiri pandits , timely holding Urban local bodies and panchayat election. LG Manoj Sinha spoke on inclusivity, sustainable development, good governance,, transparency, inclusive development, industrial expansion and growth of economy.The honrable lG said that J&K Budget Reflects Hopes of the People, Not Just Numbers,It symbolizes the people’s power, as it is prepared by the representatives chosen by the people themselves
The Chief Minister omar Abdullah said that the lieutenant governor was speaking on behalf of the government, highlighting its priorities Mr Abdullah emphasised the unity among the legislators to achieve common goals we had brought the resolution for restoration of special status in assembly, since we brought a resolution and the House passed it with majority so what is there to talk further on it and it has not been rejected .What we have to do was done in the first session
Former chief minister Mehbooba mufti in his press conference said that National conference is extension of B.J.P ‘Agenda,atleast omar led government should indeed stand for the aspirations and issues of the people
MLA Handwara Sajad Lone
said that the proposed allocation to J&K is approximately 1,000 crore less than the previous allocation.When adjusted for inflation, it is reduced by another 2,000 to 3,000 crores.he also expressed resentment over LG Adress
“The governors address is indistinguishable from a possible BJP speech, had they been in power. There seems to be total ideological overlap,” he said in post on X.”
The month long budget session will likely to experience some heated debates as people’s democratic Party’s waheed ur Rehman paraa is set to introduce a Private Member Bill titled “The Jammu and Kashmir (Regularisation and Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Public Land) Bill, 2025 , and other private bills likely to be centred on table of Assembly including 1:Prohibition of Alcohol Bill 2:Regularization of Ad Hoc, Daily Wagers, Need-Based, & Other Temporary Workers
3:Rationalization of Reservation Bill
On the other hand the leader of opposition sunil sharma said that they will not allow any unconstitutional and anti-national bill to be introduced in the budget session. The Congress leader Gulam ahmad mir and CPI (M) MLA Mohd yousuf targami have shown friendly approach for budget session Mr Targami’s statement stressed the importance of implementation of rule of law, ensuring justice for all including political prisoners and addressing key issues like farmers concern and ensuring electricity facilities
Waheed parra showed deep resentment over the budget session that there was no discussion on key political issues and we are hoping that political issues will be discussed and we will raise political issues as people have high expections on elected government
The transparent and effective allocating resources can maximize its benefits and deliver welfare to people, ultimately the omar Abdullah led government will be testified by its ability to deliver on its promises and adress the key issues facing by the people,the real popular government is one which provides best services to the citizens ,The people of jammu and Kashmir have massive expections on the budget that the government will fullfill it’s promise at priority .The political pluse of jammu and Kashmir has undergone different changes since the budget was unveiled and introduced in the parliament and then in j&k legislative Assembly, people are hankering for extra topping on their political pizza
The budget process is very complex involving various Stages ,the budget is indeed a reflection of priorities revealing whether the state or UT government cares about the welfare of it’s people. The budget scenario in jammu and Kashmir is different this time as it is for first time presented by the elected members of Jk legislative Assembly after 5th August decision,involving massive discussion. People urges the Members of legislative Assembly of jammu and Kashmir should hold constructive discussion and debates on budget for the effective and rational and transparent enactment while keeping in view Union territory issues like poverty, unemployment and other developmental concerns in order to meet people’s aspirations
