SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has accused the central government of failing to honour its commitment to restore the region’s statehood, warning that the administration’s patience should not be interpreted as a sign of weakness.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the Chief Minister made these remarks on Saturday during a rally organised by the National Conference for its ‘Madar-e-Meharban’ Day. He stated that the party’s planned protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20 is a direct consequence of the Centre’s alleged refusal to address the demands of the elected government.
Abdullah articulated his stance, saying, “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.” He referenced his own past imprisonment in 1984 to highlight the National Conference’s historical resilience in the face of adversity, asserting that patience is their strength, their voice, and ultimately, their path to victory.
The Chief Minister also raised concerns regarding the Centre’s willingness to engage in dialogue with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir while, in his view, neglecting similar engagement with his government. He questioned the disparity, stating, “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.”
Abdullah claimed to have raised the issue of statehood in all his meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, consistently receiving assurances that it would be addressed “at the right time.” He expressed frustration at the lack of clarity on when this opportune moment would arrive.
Furthermore, the Chief Minister levelled accusations against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionaries, alleging attempts to influence National Conference legislators. He claimed that a BJP lawyer and an official contacted one of his MLAs in Jammu, offering substantial sums of money, a ministerial position, and state benefits in exchange for switching allegiances. Abdullah characterised these alleged attempts as a gross underestimation of public trust and political integrity.
Criticism was also directed at the Lieutenant Governor’s administration, with Abdullah questioning its perceived overreach and the logic behind holding elections if the government is not permitted to function autonomously. “If you wanted to run JK through Raj Bhawan, why did you bring us forward?” he asked, highlighting what he sees as a contradiction in governance.
The National Conference has scheduled a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20, coinciding with the commencement of the Parliament’s Monsoon Session. The party has extended invitations to leaders from the INDIA bloc to join the demonstration. The rally served as a demonstration of the party’s strength ahead of the proposed protest in Delhi and marked the death anniversary of Begum Akbar Jehan, mother of National Conference president Farooq Abdullah.
The Chenab Times News Desk