Says statehood belongs to every J&K citizen, not NC alone
Appeals to political parties to join July 20 statehood protest
Srinagar, Jul 11: National Conference Vice President and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday called upon the Union Government to immediately restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, asserting that the Centre “must not mistake the people’s patience for weakness”.
Addressing the grand convention held on the death anniversary of Madar-e-Meherban Begum Akbar Jehan, Abdullah said, “For nearly two years, his government had exercised restraint and patience, but patience should never be interpreted as silence or surrender. “Patience does not mean that we will stop raising our voice for our constitutional and democratic rights. It does not mean that anyone can take undue advantage of our restraint or consider us weak. Our patience is our strength, our voice, and, God willing, it will ultimately lead us to victory.”
He questioned why, despite nearly two years of his government being in office, they were now compelled to speak of protesting at Jantar Mantar. “There must be a reason that has forced us to take this course,” he remarked.
The Chief Minister said that he had staked his political credibility on pursuing dialogue with the Centre instead of confrontation, despite knowing that such an approach could carry political costs. He added that while many in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in Kashmir, expect confrontation with New Delhi, he deliberately chose to give the Union Government an opportunity to honour its commitments.
Omar reminded the gathering that the Union Government had assured the Supreme Court that the restoration of statehood would take place in three stages: delimitation, Assembly elections and finally the restoration of full statehood.
“The National Conference was fully aware that the delimitation exercise would favour a particular political party and its allies. Nevertheless, the party accepted the process,” he said.
Referring to the addition of seven Assembly seats, six of which were won by the BJP and only one by the National Conference, he alleged that the exercise was designed to manipulate democracy. However, he said, the people of Jammu and Kashmir defeated those designs through their verdict.
The CM expressed anguish over the continued delay in restoration of statehood to J&K. “If that was always the intention, why was it not stated before the Supreme Court? The commitment made before the Court was that statehood would be restored after the elections,” he said.
He added, “The people had given the National Conference a clear mandate while the BJP and all its allies had failed to secure public support. The people’s democratic verdict was now being turned into a punishment by denying the elected government its rightful powers.”
Questioning the functioning of the present administrative system, Omar Abdullah said, “If all decisions were to continue being taken by LG secretariat, if officers were not expected to implement the elected government’s decisions, and if matters such as dismissals of employees, demolition drives and other key decisions were to remain outside the government’s control, then the very purpose of holding elections stood defeated.”
He maintained that despite these severe limitations, his government continued to work tirelessly and deliver maximum governance within the restricted powers available to it. However, he added, the message now being conveyed was that nothing would be achieved without public protest.
Drawing a comparison with Ladakh, Abdullah asked why the Union Government was willing to engage in dialogue with Ladakh on constitutional safeguards under Article 371 and issues relating to administrative authority, including the appointment of the Chief Secretary and budgetary powers, while refusing similar engagement with Jammu and Kashmir. “We are only asking for the restoration of our constitutional status as a State,” he said.
Omar said he had raised the issue of statehood with the Prime Minister on every occasion, including meetings in Sonamarg and Kathua, but each time he was told that it would happen at the “appropriate time”. He questioned when that appropriate time would arrive, adding that if the Centre’s position was that statehood would only be restored after the BJP formed the government in Jammu and Kashmir, then it should state so openly instead of keeping the people under false expectations.
The Chief Minister observed that the promise of restoring statehood had already been used during the Parliamentary and Assembly elections, and was now being linked to Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections. While reiterating that such elections should certainly be held, he stressed that they must take place at an appropriate time, and not solely at the Centre’s discretion.
He warned against testing the patience, dignity and restraint of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, asking whether there were attempts to once again push the region towards instability. “Have no lessons been learnt from the past? Do some people want to set Jammu and Kashmir on fire once again?” he asked.
The Chief Minister said the National Conference leadership had inherited the values taught by Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Madar-e-Meherban Begum Akbar Jehan and Dr. Farooq Abdullah, adding that every individual would ultimately be answerable before Almighty Allah for their actions. He warned the BJP against believing that it could enter Jammu and Kashmir through political manipulation.
Referring to the proposed protest programme on July 20, Omar Abdullah said the movement was not the struggle of one family or one political party, but of the entire people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said invitations had therefore been extended to all political parties currently represented in the Assembly, as well as those that had previously been represented, to participate in the campaign.
“Statehood does not belong to the National Conference alone; it belongs to every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, urging all political leaders to set aside electoral differences and unite for the restoration of the region’s constitutional status.
He pointed to Ladakh as an example, where political parties and communities—including Buddhists and Muslims, the National Conference, Congress, BJP and others—had come together on issues of common concern. He said it would be a grave injustice to the people if any political party in Jammu and Kashmir stayed away from the movement out of fear, pressure or political expediency.
Concluding his address, Omar announced that peaceful demonstrations would be held at all district headquarters on 20 July, with the sole demand of restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. He described the protest as the “beginning of a broader democratic movement”. “Its future course would depend on whether the Union Government was genuinely prepared to engage in meaningful dialogue on the restoration of statehood,” he said.
