Srinagar, July 11: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood should not be linked to the BJP forming the government, urging the Centre to fulfil its promise without further delay.
Addressing National Conference workers at Hazratbal during the 26th death anniversary of Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah, Omar announced that the party will hold a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20 to press for the restoration of statehood.
He said delimitation and Assembly elections have already been completed and questioned why the promise of restoring statehood is still pending.
Omar also alleged that attempts were being made to weaken the National Conference, claiming one of the party’s MLAs was allegedly offered Rs 20–30 crore, a ministerial berth and a promise of statehood to leave the party.
The Chief Minister said he has repeatedly raised the issue of statehood with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior Union ministers, but has only been told that it will be restored at an “appropriate time.”
He further questioned the purpose of elections if major decisions continue to be taken outside the elected government and challenged the BJP to publicly state if statehood will not be restored unless it forms the government in Jammu and Kashmir.
Reaffirming the party’s stand, Omar said patience should not be mistaken for weakness and asserted that the National Conference will continue its peaceful struggle for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
