J&K needs to focus on agriculture to boost employment: BJP MLA

On the second day of ongoing discussion on Budget 2025-26 in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, legislators spoke today on different aspects of the Budget.

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NC MLA Mir Saifullah said that this is a unique Budget that covers every region of Jammu and Kashmir. He expressed gratitude to CM Omar Abdullah for presenting a Budget which would prove beneficial to the common people and every section of society.

He added that this Budget would take J&K to new heights and make Jammu and Kashmir one of the developed regions of the country.

BJP MLA Gharu Ram Bhagat said that Jammu and Kashmir, being agriculture-dependent, needs to focus on agriculture and allied sectors. He said that investing in these areas would drive rural development, boost employment and ensure sustainable development.

NC MLA Hasnain Masoodi hailed different initiatives presented during the Budget saying that these initiatives would satiate the aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir.

MLA Iftikhar Ahmed said, “This Budget will lay a strong foundation for development of Jammu and Kashmir and we are sure that the next five years will set a new dawn in the UT,” he asserted.

Salman Sagar, while speaking in support of the Budget, said that this Budget would lay a new foundation for Jammu and Kashmir in next five years. He also hailed the women-welfare measures being presented during the Budget, adding that it would benefit a huge chunk of the population.

He, however, sought some benefits in the Budget for transporters, amnesty for electricity consumers of BPL families, CIC operators and other sections of society.

Yudhvir Sethi, while speaking on the occasion, highlighted the achievements of the Union Government.

PDP MLA Waheed Parra, while speaking during the Budget discussion, said that the Budget has no mention of youth schemes or initiatives. He added that there is no mention of employment guarantee Act, Youth Start-up Scheme, Seed Development Fund or other initiatives for creating employability avenues for youth.

He also asked for establishing a Human Rights Commission for checking human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir.

Congress MLA Nizamuddin Bhat said that the Budget presented by the government is different from other times and is quite laudable.

MLA Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, while speaking in support of the budgetary provisions, said that the government has presented a pragmatic Budget despite the challenges faced by the government.

MLA Hilal Akbar Lone, said that the Budget has provisions for every sector and section of society. He hailed CM Omar Abdullah for presenting a people-friendly Budget.

AAP MLA Mehraj Malik, while hailing the Budget, also sought increase in wages of daily wagers and contractual staff working across different sectors in J&K. He sought giving mining contracts to youth of Jammu and Kashmir.