Srinagar, Aug 15 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today announced the launch of a door-to-door signature campaign across the Union Territory for the restoration of J&K’s statehood.
Addressing the Independence Day function in Srinagar -- the first by an elected government in UT setup, Omar said it was time to “step out of offices and raise our voice at the doors in Delhi where decisions are being made for us.”
He stated that, while letters, resolutions, and meetings had been used earlier, the next step would involve reaching every village of Jammu and Kashmir to get support for statehood restoration as the Supreme Court would hear the petition on statehood restoration after eight weeks.
“So from today, I and my colleagues will not sit. We will not get tired. We will use these eight weeks to reach every 90 assembly constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir, knocking on every door, and asking one question: Do you want J&K back to statehood or not?” Omar said. He added that those unable to sign would be asked for thumb impressions, and the collected signatures would be submitted to both the Central government and the Supreme Court.
“If people refuse to sign, I will accept that J&K is satisfied with the current situation,” chief minister remarked, expressing confidence that “millions” would support the demand.
The Supreme Court yesterday sought the central government's response in 8 weeks on Jammu and Kashmir's statehood petition. The Supreme Court observed that ground realities, like what happened in Pahalgam, could not be ignored.
The Chief Minister termed the linking of restoration of statehood with Pahalgam terror attack “unjust” and “punishing people for a crime they did not commit.”
He questioned whether statehood would be under the control of external forces.
“If J&K becomes a state again, will our government not decide? Will our Supreme Court not decide? Will our neighbours or enemies determine when we can be a state?” he asked.
The Chief Minister said the people of J&K were being unfairly linked to the Pahalgam incident despite widespread condemnation across the region.
“From Kathua to Kupwara, there is no city, village, or house where people did not say the attack was not in our name,” he stressed.
Recalling India’s military response to cross-border aggression under Operation Sindoor, Omar said J&K residents had stood firmly against terrorism. “Yet, the Pahalgam attack is now being used to deny us statehood. This is neither justice nor fairness,” he said.
Omar said there were hopes for restoring the J&K statehood on this Independence Day.
“Our friends and well-wishers have been telling me again and again that something will change this year. This year there will be an announcement. Wait for it…. On 15th August, there will be a big announcement from Delhi for Jammu and Kashmir. The truth is that there was no hope. But the truth is that when a person listens to something again and again, somewhere in a small corner of the heart, a thought goes and settles,” Omar said.
“…I was even told that the papers are being prepared. Now it's just a matter of time. You wait. It's done. We waited. It didn't happen. … The hope I had a few days ago may not be there today, but I will keep coming back to it,” Omar asserted.
UNI MJR PRS