Sonia soothes Omar on coalition concerns

JAMMU - Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Saturday met Congress chief and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi and was assured of full support to their coalition government in the state.

“The two leaders discussed various matters relating to the general situation and development of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K),” a state government spokesman said Saturday.

Omar also briefed the UPA chairperson about various development programmes in the state, he added.

“Sonia Gandhi assured the chief minister of all central help in the maintenance of permanent peace and speedy development of the state. She also assured full support of Congress for further strengthening of coalition and its functioning in J&K,” the spokesman said.

“Omar briefed the UPA chairperson about the restoration of infrastructure and rehabilitation of the affected families affected by Leh flash-floods. He said the rehabilitation of affected families and their shifting to the newly constructed two-room tenements has been completed, while the reclamation work of agricultural land has started,” the spokesman added.

The meeting, which lasted for more than half-an-hour, comes in the backdrop of media reports about growing differences in the National Conference - Congress coalition which has been ruling J&K since January 2009.