Srinagar, July 11: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said Jammu and Kashmir’s patience should not be mistaken for weakness, questioning why the promise of restoring statehood remains unfulfilled despite the completion of delimitation and Assembly elections.
Addressing National Conference workers at the 26th death anniversary of Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah (Madar-e-Meharban) at Hazratbal, CM Omar said the party would hold a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20, saying the time had come to peacefully intensify the demand for the restoration of statehood.
Paying tribute to his grandmother, Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah, Omar said she remained steadfast through some of the most difficult phases in Jammu and Kashmir’s political history.
Questioning the delay in restoring statehood, Omar said he had spent nearly two years trying to resolve issues through dialogue rather than confrontation.
“I repeatedly said we wanted to secure our rights through dialogue, not conflict. I consciously gave the Centre time to fulfil its promises. But today we are compelled to speak of protest because something has clearly changed,” he said.
Making a sharp allegation, Omar further said attempts were being made to engineer defections in the National Conference by offering money and political positions.
“They are trying once again to break the National Conference. I have been told that one of our MLAs from Jammu was offered Rs 20–30 crore, a ministerial berth and a promise of statehood if he joined them. They think people’s conscience is so cheap,” he alleged.
Referring to the Supreme Court proceedings on Article 370, Omar said the Centre had itself laid down a three-step roadmap comprising delimitation, elections, and the restoration of statehood.
“Delimitation has been completed, elections have been held, and the people have given us the mandate. What is our fault now? Why is the promise of restoring statehood still pending?” he asked.
The Chief Minister alleged that the delimitation exercise was politically motivated and intended to benefit the BJP.
“We knew delimitation would be manipulated. Its objective was to favour one political party. Despite that, the people of Jammu and Kashmir gave their verdict and rejected not only the BJP but all its teams,” he said.
Omar said the Assembly elections produced an unexpected verdict even for the NC leadership.
“I myself was surprised by the election results. But is the victory of the people now being treated as their punishment?” he asked.
Questioning the functioning of the elected government, Omar said if key decisions continued to be taken from Raj Bhavan, there was little purpose in holding elections.
“If everything has to be run from Raj Bhavan, if employees are to be dismissed and all major decisions taken there, then why were elections held? Why were we brought into government with our hands tied behind our backs?” he said.
“Today, we are being told, knowingly or unknowingly, that nothing can be achieved without protest. We compare our situation with Ladakh and are forced to ask questions,” he said.
Drawing a comparison with Ladakh, Omar said while the Centre was willing to discuss constitutional safeguards for the Union Territory, Jammu and Kashmir continued to wait for the restoration of statehood.
“We are told there should be one system in one country, yet Ladakh is being offered constitutional safeguards while Jammu and Kashmir is denied even statehood,” he said.
The Chief Minister said he had consistently raised the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other senior Union ministers.
“There has not been a single meeting with the Prime Minister, Amit Shah, or any senior Union minister where I have not raised the issue of statehood. Every time, we are told it will happen at an appropriate time. I ask them what exactly that appropriate time is,” he said.
Omar challenged the BJP to openly declare that statehood would not be restored unless it formed the government in Jammu and Kashmir.
“If that is your position, have the courage to say publicly that until the BJP forms the government here, statehood will not be restored,” he said.
He also recalled that she witnessed Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah being jailed, saw the National Conference split in 1984, yet never abandoned the path of patience.
“The biggest lesson she taught us was that patience is not weakness. It does not mean we will stop raising our voice for our rights. If anyone mistakes our patience for weakness, they are mistaken. Our patience is our strength and, God willing, it will become our victory,” he said.
He added, “Our demand is simple: restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. Our patience remains, but it should never be mistaken for surrender,” he added. (KNO)
