CM Omar Abdullah pledges Statehood drive for J&K; BJP slams speech

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday invited trouble for himself by once again reiterating that his Government was committed to fighting for the restoration of the constitutional guarantees of Jammu & Kashmir and regaining its Statehood.

“Whether it is to bring Jammu & Kashmir to that level again, whether it is to restore the constitutional guarantees, whether it is to regain the special status, or whether it is to start a new era of progress in J&K, your Government is not only a promise for all these things, but your Government will make it a reality,” Omar said after hoisting the National Flag at the 80th Independence Day function at Bakhshi Stadium, Srinagar.

Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for referring to political issues during his Independence Day address.

“I don’t want to talk about politics, but I was very shocked when such a stage was used by the Chief Minister for political purposes,” he said.

Sharma said the Independence Day platform represented the history and glory of the country and should not be treated as a platform belonging to any political party or individual.

“This stage represents the glorious history of India. This stage is not the stage of a party or a person. This stage is for the glory of the flag. It is irresponsible to talk about politics here by the Chief Minister,” he said.

The Independence Day function in Srinagar was attended by former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, several Members of the Legislative Assembly, senior officers of the J&K civil and police administration, and a large gathering of people. Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary hoisted the flag inside MA Stadium in Jammu.

The Independence Day passed off peacefully at all other district headquarters where senior cabinet ministers and district development commissioners hoisted the tricolour.

In his carefully drafted speech, Omar attempted to convince the people by assuring them that the Government would continue to represent, serve and work for the people of Jammu & Kashmir and strive to fulfil the dreams of those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and future of the region.

Opening his speech with the famous patriotic verse, “Sare Jahan Se Achha, Hindustan Hamara... the Chief Minister said the words beautifully capture the love, pride and emotional bond that people share with their country. He said Independence Day was an occasion to reflect on whether the India envisioned by those who made the supreme sacrifice had been fully realised and, if not, what more needed to be done.

Reflecting on the 80 years since Independence, the Chief Minister said the occasion was not only one of celebration but also of remembrance, gratitude and introspection about the India envisioned by those who made the supreme sacrifice for its freedom.

He stressed that democracy and federalism were among the two biggest strengths of the Country.

“Our country is a Union of States,” he said, asserting that strengthening federalism required strengthening the States and ensuring that their constitutional powers and responsibilities were respected.

The Chief Minister said that when the powers of States were eroded or central agencies interfered in areas falling within the States’ domain, federalism was weakened. He cited education and health as areas where States traditionally had an important role and said that national-level examinations for national institutions were legitimate, while State institutions should retain the right to conduct their own examinations and admissions.

He also stressed the importance of restoring public trust in recruitment and admission processes at the Centre, saying that while it takes only moments to lose trust in a system, rebuilding it requires years of sustained effort.

“In Jammu and Kashmir, whether it is admission, recruitment or any other process, it should be transparent, merit-based and fair, so that those who genuinely deserve a job or a seat get their rightful opportunity,” he said.

The Chief Minister paid tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country and recalled the contribution of the people of Jammu & Kashmir who fought against tribal raiders and infiltrators in 1947, even before the Indian Army reached the region.

Referring to the situation across the Line of Control, he said that looking at the circumstances there today reinforced his belief that the decision taken by the leaders of Jammu &Kashmir 80 years ago was the right one.

He recalled the sacrifice of brave people who raised the call of “Hamlavar Khabardar; Hum Kashmiri Hain, Tayyaar” and those who made the supreme sacrifice in resisting the tribal invasion.

The Chief Minister particularly remembered Master Abdul Aziz, a National Conference leader who was killed in Muzaffarabad while resisting the tribal attack.

Referring to the situation in the part of Jammu & Kashmir under Pakistan’s occupation, he said the people living there were not strangers but part of the same land and people of Jammu & Kashmir.

“We consider those people as our own, not strangers,” he said, adding that the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly continues to keep seats vacant for them in the hope that one day the people of that part of J&K would be able to occupy those seats.

The Chief Minister said that the sacrifices made by the people of Jammu & Kashmir eight decades ago continued to hold relevance and that their aspirations had to be honoured through peace, development, democracy and justice.