Kashmir Impulse Desk

Tangmarg, May 6 

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday hinted at making a major political statement after Eid, saying he was restraining himself from speaking openly at the current event because the occasion was not suitable for political remarks.

Speaking at a function in Tangmarg, Abdullah said the academic setting did not permit a political address.

“Trust me, I want to burst like a cloudburst,” he said, adding that he would speak candidly at a public gathering after Eid.

Addressing governance and youth-related issues, Abdullah said students were central to the future of Jammu and Kashmir and that the government was focused on improving education, employment and economic opportunities in the region.

He said the absence of sufficient private universities in Jammu and Kashmir had forced many families to send their children outside the region at considerable financial cost. To address the issue, the government had passed a Private University Bill and was framing rules for its implementation.

Abdullah said he hoped private universities would be established across Jammu and Kashmir, adding that areas such as Tangmarg offered favourable conditions for such institutions.

On unemployment, the chief minister acknowledged that government jobs alone could not resolve the issue but said the administration had set a target of providing between 20,000 and 25,000 government jobs this year to offer some relief.

He also highlighted self-employment initiatives, including Mission Yuva, aimed at improving access to loans for young entrepreneurs, particularly those involved in tourism and small businesses. Skill development programmes were also being expanded to better align training with market demand, he said.

Abdullah said the government’s broader objective was to build a self-reliant Jammu and Kashmir with stronger local economic foundations, creating opportunities within the region and reducing long-term dependence on federal support.

“We want a day when we can stand on our own,” he said, adding that sustained efforts in education, employment and infrastructure would help achieve that goal.