Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday asserted that the July 20 demonstration in Delhi will mark the beginning of a new phase in the party’s campaign for statehood to the Union Territory.
Abdullah was addressing a well-attended public rally at Maharaja Hari Singh Park — his first major public meeting in Jammu city in many years. The rally assumed significance as it was held in the BJP stronghold.
The gathering came a day after the National Conference organised a grand workers’ convention at the mausoleum of Abdullah’s grandparents in the Hazratbal area here, held to mark the 26th death anniversary of his grandmother, Akbar Jehan.
Abdullah paid his tributes to her on the stage amid cheering by thousands of party workers and a sea of flags and banners demanding statehood.
A large banner on the stage proclaimed, “Delhi Chalo! We Want Our Statehood,” whereas placards bore the slogans: “Hamari Riyasat, Hamari Shaan” and “Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq.”
“Enough is enough! There will be no more waiting!” the chief minister said at the rally.
He said the party’s silence was being mistaken for weakness.
“Our decency is being taken for granted. Our silence is being mistaken for weakness, and our patience is being tested beyond its limits.
“After enduring every taunt hurled at us by the BJP, facing constant accusations, and confronting every conspiracy against our party, we have reached the conclusion that the time has come to take to the streets,” Abdullah said.
The party has ratcheted up its efforts for statehood after a nearly two-year wait.
“We have given the Central government enough time. For almost two years, we pursued one approach … Now we will adopt a new strategy. That new phase will begin on July 20, when we will gather in Delhi and raise our voice for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood,” the NC leader said.
Statehood is not a favour to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, but their right, he asserted.
“This is not just the National Conference’s issue; it concerns every party that contested the 2024 assembly election. Show me a single BJP MLA who told voters that the party would oppose statehood. They sought votes promising restoration.”
Questioning the Centre’s repeated deferral of statehood to an “appropriate time”, the chief minister wondered what that appropriate time constituted and whether it meant the BJP coming to power in the Union Territory.
“Every time we ask when Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood will be restored, we get the same vague reply: ‘It will happen at an appropriate time’. But no one explains what that means or when that time will come. Are they waiting until the BJP forms the government here? If that is their position, they should say so openly,” he said.
He said that the Centre had outlined a clear sequence: delimitation, election, statehood. He also referred to the Supreme Court calling for statehood restoration “as soon as possible” after the election.
“We believe the delimitation exercise unfairly favoured the BJP, yet we accepted it and contested the election. Despite attempts to divide political parties and influence the electoral outcome, the people delivered their verdict. The government must now honour its commitment,” the chief minister said.
On choosing Delhi as the venue for the protest, he said, “If decisions concerning a part of our own country cannot be taken in our own national capital, where are they supposed to be taken?”
Abdullah said the BJP constantly undermined its efforts for statehood through demonstrations in the region, in the Assembly, and is now doing the same with its protest in the national capital.
“So what do they expect us to do? Should we go to America and protest before (US President Donald) Trump or outside the White House to seek Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood? We are only asking for a promise made in our own country to be honoured in our own country’s capital,” he said.
The NC leader accused the BJP of using statehood as a bait to wield as a political instrument rather than fulfilling a constitutional commitment.
“If it is Modi’s promise made on the soil of Katra, then it should be honoured,” he said, referring to the prime minister’s promise to restore statehood during the party campaign in the 2024 assembly election.
He alleged that the Centre was punishing the people of Jammu and Kashmir by withholding statehood.
“The people of Jammu stood with the nation whenever the country faced challenges. Border districts bore the brunt of shelling, and Jammu opened its doors to those displaced by militancy. What crime have the people committed that they continue to be denied statehood?” Abdullah said.
Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, Abdullah said that during the post-Partition violence, the father of the nation had termed Jammu and Kashmir a symbol of communal harmony.
He also wondered whether the region was being penalised for upholding Hindu-Muslim-Sikh unity.
“We will continue knocking on the doors of our own nation’s capital. We will continue reminding the country’s leadership of the promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We only ask that those promises be honoured,” he said.
“We were forced to come on the roads after the talks failed. The July 20 protest will be the start of our agitation in support of the demand,” Abdullah said, as the strong crowd raised hands in support.
The chief minister said that despite the limitations of a Union Territory and administrative obstructions, his government is doing everything within its powers.
“But our efforts are repeatedly hindered because several key departments that should be under the control of an elected government remain outside its authority,” he said.
