Srinagar, Sep 9: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah is looking for a suitable alternative house as he has decided to vacate official accommodation at high security Gupkar road by October end.
Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter Vice President of the National Conference (NC) on Wednesday said “ My letter to the J&K administration. I will be vacating my government accommodation in Srinagar before the end of October. The point to note is that contrary to stories planted in the media last year I received no notice to vacate & have chosen to do so of my own accord”.
In a letter to the Administrative Secretary, Estate Hospitality and Protocol Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar said he was allotted house Gupkar-1, in 2002 in his capacity as Member of Parliament (MP) Srinagar Constituency. Consequently to my election as Chief Minister in 2008, the adjoining house was renovated and the complex of G1 and G 5 were used as the official CM residence from October 2010 onwards. He said he continued to remain in occupation of this accommodation subsequent to his demitting the office as CM in January 2015. As the rules allowed for me to retain an accommodation in Srinagar or Jammu and I choose to retain an accommodation in Srinagar, the letter said.
Omar further said in the letter “consequent upon the change of entitlements for former chief ministers of J&K some months ago,I now find myself in unauthorized occupation of accommodation at Gupkar road as no attempt has been made to regularize the allotment to me on the security or other grounds. This is the situation that is unacceptable to me. I have never held on to any government property I was not entitled to and have no intention to start now,” the former CM said.
He further said he has begun the search for a suitable alternative accommodation. The process is taking long because of the constrains caused by COVID-19. I intend to complete the process in 8 to 10 weeks and should be in a position to hand over the Gupkar road accommodation accordingly, the letter dated July 31, 2020 said.
