Haven’t compromised on our statehood, special status stand: CM Omar
Chennai /Srinagar, Sep 13: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday reiterated his party’s firm demand for the restoration of statehood and special status, making it clear that there was no compromise on these issues.
Speaking in Chennai, CM Omar said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had elected their representatives to speak for them, and the demand for the restoration of special status and statehood was being pursued consistently.
“We haven’t compromised on anything. We are the elected people and have always sought the restoration of what was taken away from us. Statehood must be restored,” he said.
The CM said that his party would continue to advocate for these constitutional and political rights, and that the aspirations of the people of J&K could not be ignored indefinitely.
Regarding Sunday’s clash between the Indian and Pakistani cricket teams in the Asia Cup, he said the match between India and Pakistan should be viewed as part of a multilateral tournament and not as a bilateral contest.
CM Omar said that sports must not repeatedly become a casualty of politics.
“Our problem has always been with bilateral matches, never with multilateral tournaments,” he said. “If this is a beginning and things move in a positive direction, nothing like it.”
The CM said that sport often becomes the victim of politics, especially cricket in the subcontinent.
“But you cannot ignore the realities. My part of the country has suffered for over three decades, and what happened this year in Pahalgam is a real concern we live with. These cannot be wished away,” he said.
Meanwhile, National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah said he was hopeful that the Centre would respect the aspirations of the people of J&K and restore its statehood.
The three-time chief minister was in Pahalgam as a guest of honour at a golf tournament in which around 50 golfers from across the country are participating.
On whether he was hopeful of the restoration of J&K’s statehood, Abdullah said, “God willing, that will also happen one day. We are hopeful that Delhi will pay attention to it. The PM will see to it that the people of Jammu and Kashmir want statehood to be restored.”
On whether controversies like Hazratbal or Doda divert attention from real issues, the NC president said the people of J&K have been living in difficult times since 1947, and “this is not something new”.
“However, we have to come out of that... nothing is static, things move. God willing, the situation has improved here, and I am hopeful that the leadership of our country will understand this and try to further improve the situation by paying attention to the aspirations of the people here,” he said.
Referring to the April 22 terror attack in Baisaran meadows of Pahalgam, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed, Abdullah said the incident dealt a severe blow to tourism in Kashmir.
“Tourism is essential for sustaining the economy of Kashmir. Be it poor or rich, everyone benefits from tourism. It (tourism) remains shut for six months, so they earn for six months and sustain that in the winters,” he said.
Asserting that the people of Kashmir were not behind the attack, he said the entire Kashmir stood united against the attack.
He said the golf tournament would send a message across the country that Kashmir was safe and the situation had improved.
“It is our endeavour to end fear among the people of the country after the April 22 (attack). It is our friends who have organised the tournament so that a message goes out across the country that the situation is good now and everyone should come here to enjoy the hospitality,” he said.
