It is a welcome move: CM Omar

Jammu, July 16: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday asserted that he had been waiting for long for the day when the opposition would raise statehood issue in the Parliament and in New Delhi, and plead for the cause on J&K’s behalf.

He also described the letter written by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi pressing for legislation in the Monsoon session to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir as a “welcome move” and profusely thanked them.

“It is a welcome move. We had been waiting for this day when the opposition would raise voice for statehood on our behalf in the Parliament and in (New) Delhi,” CM Omar said, while responding to media queries, on the sidelines of an official event here in the winter capital.

Extending his gratitude to Congress leadership for the move, he said, “I thank (Mallikarjun) Kharge Ji and Rahul Gandhiji that they have taken up the matter of J&K statehood with the Centre. We’re not demanding anything which was not promised to us.”

“Within the Parliament; outside the Parliament; in the Supreme Court and even in public functions – repeatedly we have been promised that J&K will be given statehood “at an appropriate time.” You might remember that when the Supreme Court had given its verdict, it had directed for restoration of statehood as soon as possible i.e., at the earliest,” Chief Minister recalled.

In the same vein, he added, “Our plea is – “As soon as possible” (timeline) has lapsed long ago therefore now we should get back our statehood.”

In response to questions about joining Congress in its proposed “Parliament gherao”, the Chief Minister said, “So far, no deliberations have taken place with them on this account. We will see and take a call once we deliberate on this issue.”

When asked to elaborate his remarks about the recent controversy, following July 13 and 14 incidents, the Lieutenant Governor and his administration, CM Omar evaded a direct reply, stating, “You (media) people are wise enough to decipher – what I was saying and whom I was referring to.”