J-K CM calls on Amit Shah to discuss statehood, business rules for UT

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday where the two leaders discussed issues concerning the Union territory. Before leaving for the national capital, the chief minister told reporters in Srinagar that he would discuss all the issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir. ''I wish we could have got our statehood after one meeting with the home minister. If that was the case, we would have got it a long time ago. But yes, I will raise statehood, business rules and other issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir in the meeting,'' he said. Abdullah also said that there was ''nothing wrong'' in giving telecom powers to the lieutenant governor (LG) during public safety events, as he holds the charge of security and law and order. ''This is the right thing. These powers should be with the lieutenant governor. This is not against the business rules or the reorganisation act,'' the chief minister told reporters. He said that orders to stop phone services or internet are issued by the home department, which comes under the LG. The Centre has last week authorised the Jammu and Kashmir LG to exercise powers, such as interception of signals, suspension of service and decryption of messages, related to telecom services in the UT during public safety events or national emergency. According to the order issued on Thursday, the President directed the LG to exercise the powers and discharge the functions of the state government under Sub-Section 20 (2) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 (44 of 2023), which deals with situations involving public safety and national security, within the UT.

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