Srinagar, Oct 27: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Tuesday said the expansion of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s cabinet would strengthen governance, improve public service delivery and enhance accountability.

Speaking to reporters after the oath-taking ceremony at Lok Bhavan in Srinagar, Choudhary said the government had fulfilled its commitment to expand and reshuffle the cabinet. He urged the media to shift its focus towards the government's performance and question the BJP over issues affecting the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Welcoming the induction of Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mir Saifullah, Shameema Firdous and Altaf Ahmad Wani into the Council of Ministers, the Deputy Chief Minister said the expansion was aimed at ensuring greater public benefit through the government's functioning.

He criticised the BJP for repeatedly raising questions over the cabinet expansion, saying the party had now run out of an issue after the reshuffle was completed. He accused the BJP of misleading people and engaging in political criticism instead of addressing pressing public concerns.

Choudhary also questioned the BJP's response to reported incidents of attacks on Kashmiris in different parts of the country. He urged the media to seek answers from Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma over what he described as the selective targeting of people from Jammu and Kashmir.

He said Kashmiris travelling outside the Union Territory for livelihood, including drivers, shawl sellers and fruit vendors, deserved safety and dignity. He added that attacks on such individuals caused pain to their families and the wider community.

The Deputy Chief Minister further urged the BJP to stop criticising the youth of Jammu and Kashmir and instead acknowledge its own shortcomings in fulfilling its promises.