We will continue to fight for statehood restoration: CM Omar
Jammu, Aug 22: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Friday said that though the hopes pinned on the Monsoon session of the Parliament ended in disappointment yet the fight for restoration of J&K statehood would continue, rather more vigorously.
CM Omar was responding to the queries of media persons after attending an event in connection with the 56th Raising Day of Sainik School Nagrota in Jammu. He said that his government would pick up the threads from thereon and would initiate to take that process (struggle for statehood) forward, full-throttle.
Though the CM did not spell it out yet, it seemed to be a reference to his “signature campaign” across J&K in favour of statehood restoration, which he had announced during his Independence Day address to convey “aspirations of people” to the Supreme Court ahead of its next hearing on the issue.
Very subtly, he also conveyed his disappointment that the promises made to J&K, its people (by the central leadership) were not fulfilled. With regard to the sacking of more government employees, CM Omar also curtly asked to approach the Raj Bhawan, asserting that they (elected government) had no role in it.
PARLIAMENT SESSION AND STATEHOOD RESTORATION
“Leave it (topic) now. All (our) expectations have dashed to the ground. But we will initiate our process from here on. We had hoped that it would not be required. We were hopeful that the promises made to us would be implemented,” he said, when queried about his expectations vis-à-vis J&K statehood restoration from the Monsoon session of the Parliament, which concluded on August 21 in the union capital.
However, in the same breath, the CM said that they (the NC-led government) would continue to fight to achieve it (statehood).
“It is okay – be that as it may. Now in case we will have to further struggle and intensify our endeavours on this account. We are ready and we will work harder to achieve our objective,” he said.
When his comment was sought towards the J&K Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, in the backdrop of BJP comments that it (Bill) was aimed at ending political corruption, CM Omar cautioned them (BJP leaders) against the misuse of law to target political opponents.
The Bill, along with two similar bills, ‘The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025’ and ‘The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025’, was recently introduced in the Parliament and sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee for wider consultations.
The bills aim at barring the Prime Minister, Chief Minister, and the Ministers of central and state or UT governments from “running the government while in jail.”
“So far, whatever cases have been registered or arrests have been made, only the opposition leaders have been targeted. In any case, if this step has been taken now (at this moment) to end corruption, one will be curious to know what has been the impact of efforts of the government, in power since 2014, to weed out corruption,” the CM said, taking a subtle dig at the central government.
In the same vein, he warned, while referring to its (law’s) ‘double-edged weapon’ impact, saying that they (BJP people) too would meet the same fate in the future, and it (law) would be (mis)used against them (when out of power).
“No law is bad in itself; it’s just that it is misused when executed. Here lies my fears that this law too will be misused or abused. I would like to remind my friends in the BJP only one point that they will not remain in power forever. Today, the law which they are using against others. The same law, tomorrow, will be used against their own people, once they are out of power. So don’t do it. Don’t fiddle with the law,” CM Omar said.
He said that fiddling with the law would not be in the interest of the country at large.
“Anyway, the bill has been sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee (Joint Parliamentary Committee). Let’s see what it does,” the CM said.
Regarding the sacking of two more J&K government employees on Friday (August 22, 2025) on the pretext of their alleged “terror links”, he said, “That you will have to ask Raj Bhawan. We don’t have any role in it.”
Responding to another query if the cabinet, which met on Friday in Srinagar, took any decision to enhance relief amounts for the victims of Chisoti and Kathua cloudburst incidents, CM Omar said, “For the time being, what we are supposed to give, we are providing. Following assessment, if the need arises, arrangements for that (more relief) too will be taken.”
