Within the aftermath of the horrific terror assault in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah delivered a pointy message throughout a particular session of the Union Territory’s Meeting: that is no time for political opportunism.
Rejecting calls from some Home members to demand the restoration of statehood, Abdullah made it clear that he wouldn’t use the tragedy to press political calls for. “The safety in Jammu and Kashmir will not be the accountability of the UT’s elected authorities. However I cannot use this event to hunt statehood. How can I push for statehood now? I don’t imagine in low cost politics. Ought to I’ve no worth for the 26 lives misplaced and go to the Centre demanding statehood now?” the Nationwide Convention chief stated.
In the identical speech, Abdullah, who holds the tourism portfolio as properly, stated it was his elementary accountability to ensure the security of tourists and that he failed in his obligation.
The particular Meeting session was convened particularly to debate the brutal assault on April 22, which has sparked shockwaves throughout the area and the nation. After observing a minute’s silence and paying tributes to the victims, the Home unanimously handed a decision pledging to “resolutely defeat the nefarious designs of those that search to disturb the communal concord and progress of the nation and of J&Ok.”
Reiterating that the main target should stay on condemning terrorism and standing in solidarity with the bereaved households, Abdullah careworn that the time for political conversations on statehood would come later. “We now have talked about statehood (with the Central authorities) previously and we’ll proceed to speak about it in future, however not proper now. This time there can be no politics on something besides condemnation of the fear act and expressing solidarity with the households who misplaced their kin,” the two-time chief minister stated.
Simply weeks earlier than the assault, Abdullah had voiced optimism concerning the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood following his assembly with Union Residence Minister Amit Shah. On the time, he had stated, “We predict the suitable time has come, six months have handed because the Meeting elections. Shah got here right here, I had a separate assembly with him, one … I’m nonetheless hopeful that JK will quickly get its statehood again.”
Nonetheless, Abdullah has constantly struck a measured tone on bigger constitutional points. Whereas reaffirming his dedication to the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s particular standing — revoked in August 2019 after the abrogation of Article 370 — he has cautioned in opposition to unrealistic expectations.
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Talking at an Concept Trade session with the Indian Categorical earlier this yr, Abdullah had stated, “We now have stated we’ll proceed to maintain the difficulty alive, which we have now achieved… However at no level did we ever mislead the folks by telling them that they’re going to elect a authorities that’s going to right away get the particular standing restored.”
“To count on the individuals who took it away from us to provide it again to us, simply because we’re asking for it, is pointless,” he added.