SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday accused the Centre of failing to fulfil its commitment to restore statehood, asserting that his government’s patience should not be mistaken for weakness or silence.
Addressing party workers at the National Conference’s Madar-e-Meharban Day rally, Omar Abdullah said the party’s proposed protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20 stemmed from what he described as the Centre’s refusal to address the elected government’s legitimate demands.
“I am the man who, after two and a half years of putting my political reputation at stake, told the Central Government that we want to secure our rights through dialogue, not confrontation,” the Chief Minister said.
Recalling his imprisonment in 1984, Omar Abdullah said the National Conference had always faced adversity with patience. “Patience is our strength. It is our voice. And, God willing, this patience will be our victory and success,” he said.
The Chief Minister also questioned the Centre’s willingness to engage with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir while, according to him, denying similar dialogue with his government. “Why don’t you hold those talks with us? You removed Article 370 for one country, one law, but you are ready to give them 371. We want statehood, and your leaders say we will not get it,” he said.
Omar Abdullah claimed he had raised the issue of statehood in every meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. “In every meeting, I am told it will happen at the right time. I ask them—just tell us, how will we recognise that right time?” he said.
The Chief Minister also alleged that BJP functionaries had attempted to poach National Conference legislators. “A BJP lawyer and an officer called one of my MLAs in Jammu and offered Rs 20–30 crore, a ministerial berth and a state if they joined them. They think people’s faith is so cheap,” he alleged.
Criticising the Lieutenant Governor’s administration, Omar Abdullah questioned what he described as its overreach. “Why did you hold elections if you are not going to let the government function? If you wanted to run JK through Raj Bhawan, why did you bring us forward?” he asked.
The National Conference has called for a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20, the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, and has invited leaders of the INDIA bloc to participate.
The rally marked the death anniversary of Begum Akbar Jehan, mother of National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, and was seen as a show of strength ahead of the proposed Delhi protest. (KNS)
