Dismissing speculative media reports suggesting that fresh Assembly elections would be required after Statehood is restored, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday accused certain quarters of planting such stories to intimidate Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).
In the same vein, Omar maintained that he has no objections if the Legislative Assembly has to be dissolved and fresh elections are conducted after statehood is restored to Jammu and Kashmir.
Interacting with the media on the sidelines of an event in Gulmarg, Omar said “I have read in a newspaper that Statehood will be restored, but Assembly elections would have to be held afresh”. “Let them do it, who has stopped them,” Abdullah said, addressing speculations about the political process following Statehood restoration.
Without naming individuals or entities, he warned, “Don’t try to scare us, statehood is our right and give it (back) to us. Stop planting stories in newspapers, it won’t work.” Abdullah, who has already completed eight months in office, emphasised that the restoration of statehood is not for the benefit of MLAs or the Government but for the people of the region.
“I know where the story has come from. I know who planted the story in a newspaper here. It was planted only to scare the MLAs. This statehood is not for any MLA or the Government. This statehood is for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and we MLAs will not be an obstacle to it,” he stated.
Without mincing any words, Omar Abdullah declared that if the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly is a condition for restoring statehood, his party would not resist. “If the MLAs are being threatened with the dissolution of the Assembly for the restoration of statehood, then do it. The day the state is established again, the next day we will go to the governor and recommend the dissolution of the Assembly,” he asserted, underscoring his commitment to the cause.
Jammu and Kashmir was stripped of its statehood and special status under Article 370 in August 2019, when the central Government bifurcated the erstwhile state into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.