Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday told the Legislative Assembly that Budget 20205 is the foundation of J&K’s self-reliance and not pessimism.
Replying to the discussion on Budget 2025, the CM said, “The Budget is in fact is realistic. Some members termed the beginning of my budget speech as pessimistic. I believe it was not pessimistic; it was realistic”.
“ I told the truth—I said my whole body has wounds. Pessimism would have been if I had said, ‘The body has so many wounds, death would be inevitable.’” Instead, he explained, “I said, ‘The body has so many wounds, and I don’t even have enough balm for them.’ This is not pessimism; this is our reality.”
He stressed the financial constraints facing the Union Territory, adding, “Do I have enough money to take all the power projects into my hands and start working on them? No. Can I provide free electricity to all the people? No. In today’s age, we don’t even have the budget to ensure 24-hour electricity for Jammu and Kashmir. We are forced to buy electricity. We have worked on increasing social benefits for the poor. But is this truly enough to meet their needs? No.”
Quoting an English saying, “Cut your coat according to your cloth,” Omar explained the necessity of managing within available resources. “My words were not pessimistic; they were realistic. I presented the truth. We don’t have enough money, but we have prioritized welfare measures that will have a meaningful impact on the people.”
He acknowledged that the budget would not yield instant results but assured that long-term growth had been set in motion. “This budget serves as our foundation. Over the next five years, we will build a strong and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir.”
Responding to the opposition, particularly BJP members, the Chief Minister remarked that instead of focusing on the budget, their speeches were centered around Article 370, Maharaja, and July 13.
“Initially, I thought his speech had substance, but in reality, there was nothing related to the budget,” he said, referring to a BJP legislator’s remarks.
Addressing the interpretation of his budget speech, Omar reiterated, “My budget speech is a love letter—to the BJP, to the PC, to the PDP, to the AIP, to Congress, to the CPI(M), to independent MLAs, and, above all, to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Why do we write love letters? To express love. And do we not love those who are in need? Through this budget, we have tried to extend that love by addressing their challenges and aspirations.”
“I am not ashamed to call it a love letter. In fact, for the next five years, we will continue writing such love letters—letters of commitment, of progress and of transformation for the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Responding to criticism about acknowledging financial support from the Centre, the CM said, “The central government has extended financial support to us. Should I be ashamed to admit it? No, I will not. The reality is that we are not yet self-sufficient. We are not financially independent. That is our challenge. And that is precisely what we must work toward.”
He stressed that Jammu and Kashmir had always relied on central funds, but the goal was to achieve financial self-reliance in the long run. “This is not a new struggle. Our past budgets reflect the same reality. But we aspire for more. We aim for a future where Jammu and Kashmir stands on its own feet.” To achieve this, the government has focused on developing new tourism destinations, industrial estates, and encouraging start-ups and entrepreneurship.
Dispelling the misconception that Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) are fully funded by the Government of India, Omar said the UT also contributes significantly.
He cited the PM Golden Card, which covers only BPL families under central funding, while the remaining 18 lakh families are supported by the UT. “Similarly, under the National Social Assistance Program, 1.43 lakh BPL families receive pensions from central funds, but 8 lakh additional pensioners are covered by the UT’s own resources. These are not mere figures; they represent our responsibility toward our people.”
The CM emphasized that after years of struggle, the budget of Jammu and Kashmir was finally being discussed within J&K itself, instead of just being passed in Parliament. “This is an achievement in itself. Some may argue that we still do not have a government of our own. But let me remind them—this budget is for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and it is being debated where it truly belongs.”
He concluded by reaffirming his government’s commitment to restoring dignity, empowerment, and self-reliance for the people. “Some may see these initiatives as mere drops in the ocean, but history has shown that even the mightiest oceans are formed by countless drops.