Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Tuesday that the implementation of the newly introduced criminal laws in Jammu and Kashmir has been largely effective.
Speaking to reporters after attending a meeting on the topic in New Delhi chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah, he said that while the overall enforcement has been smooth, certain areas require improvement, and the government will address these shortcomings.
The meeting focused on reviewing how these laws are being implemented across states and Union Territories, with particular attention to Jammu and Kashmir this time.
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Abdullah said that the implementation of the new laws in Jammu and Kashmir has been largely smooth, with only a few minor weaknesses identified. "The review process has highlighted some areas that need attention, and those shortcomings will be addressed," he said.
The chief minister stressed the need to spread awareness about the new laws in colleges and universities, socially and politically in assemblies.
He said that while law enforcement in Union Territories is not directly the responsibility of elected governments, steps should be taken to educate people.
"Since these are new laws, the public must be made aware of them,’’ he said. “Elected governments will have to take the initiative, especially at universities, colleges, and through social and political discussions, including in the Assembly."
On the issue of security, Abdullah clarified that no security-related matters were discussed in the meeting.
However, he said that during a previous parliamentary meeting, discussions were held regarding the evolving situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the implementation of the new laws.
"Those meetings were security-related, and it was decided that elected governments would not be involved in such matters," he said.
Commenting on the opposition’s stance regarding the selection of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Abdullah defended Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s dissent. "The opposition has the right to present its point of view, which is why they are part of the process,’’ he said. “Rahul Gandhi has exercised his right to dissent, just as opposition leaders have done in the past, even in Jammu and Kashmir, when appointments to constitutional bodies like the Election Commission and Information Commission were made."
Regarding the Congress party’s objection to the exclusion of the Chief Justice from the CEC selection process, he said the Congress has expressed its disagreement, which is their right. “The government insists that the Leader of the Opposition must be included in the process, and expressing dissent is a legitimate part of the democratic process," he said.
When asked about the outcome of this debate, he said the Supreme Court is set to hear the matter, and once the proceedings are completed, its decision will be final.
