Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday defended his remarks on the Centre, saying he has always maintained a consistent stand and does not engage in politics aimed at pleasing anyone.

Reacting to criticism over praising the central government, Omar said he openly acknowledges where the Centre has helped and does not hesitate to point out where it has failed, particularly on the issue of restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
“I say the same thing everywhere. I am not among those who play politics and deceive people. Where the central government has helped, I have said so. Where it has not helped, I have said that as well,” Omar told reporters in Srinagar after chairing a review meeting on winter preparedness ahead of predicted snowfall, precipitation in J&K.
He said while Centre has not raised objections on several issues, it has offered nothing except complaints when it comes to the demand for statehood.
“If I lie just to please someone, that would be wrong,” he said.
The CM said his position has remained unchanged whether he is speaking in Delhi or in Jammu and Kashmir.
“I say this here in front of you, in meetings, in programmes, and I have said it repeatedly in the Assembly in Srinagar and Jammu,” he said.
Omar maintained that he would continue to thank the Centre when its actions benefit the people but would also call out what he believes is wrong. “ Where the central government will do the right, I will appreciate it. If it is wrong, I will say it is wrong,” he said.
Omar recently said in Delhi that the BJP-led Centre is generally cooperative with the government but has failed in restoring statehood, while Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha was interfering in the functioning of the elected J&K government.
Several politicians in J&K had criticised Omar for praising the Central government.
The Chief Minister, however, criticised the Centre’s move to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with a new legislation, calling the renaming and restructuring of the scheme harmful for states like Jammu and Kashmir.
Reacting to the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill (VB-G RAM G Bill), Omar questioned the very name of the proposed law.
“First of all, where did this name come from? Even if you remember the name of the bill, it reminds me of an old Bollywood movie, G. Mummy Ji,” Omar remarked sarcastically.
The CM said the Centre had done wrong by removing the name of Mahatma Gandhi from the flagship rural employment programme.