Asks what ‘right time’ means; demands roadmap
Rajouri, Apr 20: Asserting that despite repeated assurances there is no clarity on restoring J&K’s statehood, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday criticised the Centre over the delay and questioned its intent.
Addressing a public rally in Rajouri district, CM Omar, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, “Commitments made by the BJP-led government at multiple forums, including Parliament and before the Supreme Court of India, have not translated into action.”
He questioned the Centre’s use of the phrase “at the right time”, asking what it meant in practical terms for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief Minister said a promise made to the people, particularly one linked to democratic rights and constitutional status, could not be deferred indefinitely.
He urged the Centre to spell out a clear roadmap for restoring statehood and specify if any conditions were attached to it.
“People deserve to know what benchmarks, if any, they are expected to meet. Without that, uncertainty and mistrust will continue,” CM Omar said.
Referring to the Centre’s earlier position, the Chief Minister, as per KNO. said the sequence outlined by the Bharatiya Janata Party included delimitation, followed by elections and then restoration of statehood. He noted that delimitation had been completed and elections, including both Parliamentary and Assembly polls, had been held in 2024.
“Despite this, there has been no progress on the final step,” he said, adding that more than a year had passed since an elected government assumed office in the Union Territory.
CM Omar described the 2019 reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory as a move that many people perceived as punitive. He said participation in subsequent elections was driven in part by assurances that statehood would be restored.
The Chief Minister also raised concerns over the delimitation exercise, alleging that it had been used for political advantage. He claimed that a majority of newly created constituencies had benefited the BJP, though he added that electoral outcomes did not fully align with such efforts.
On women’s reservation in legislatures, the Chief Minister reiterated support for greater representation but questioned the timing of the exercise, arguing that delimitation without a fresh census raised procedural concerns.
He said the demand for statehood was not limited to any one party but reflected a broader aspiration across political lines. The National Conference, he added, would continue to press the issue and hold the Centre accountable. “Raising questions and seeking accountability is part of democratic responsibility,” the Chief Minister said. (KNO)
