Jammu : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday exuded hope that the Union Territory status of Jammu and Kashmir won’t remain a permanent feature and the BJP-led Central Government would stand by its promise to restore the statehood.
Talking to reporters at the sidelines of an orientation programme for legislators here, Omar said, “We are hopeful about the Centre fulling its promise of restoring J&K’s statehood.” Expressing dismay over what he called the “lack of clarity” regarding the agenda pf INDIA bloc, the Chief Minister said alliance should be wound up if it was meant only for the parliamentary elections. “They should call all the members for a meeting. If this alliance was only for the parliamentary elections, it should be wound up, and we will work separately. But if it is meant for Assembly elections as well, we will have to sit together and work collectively,” Omar said.
Claiming that there is no clarity regarding the main leadership, the party, or the agenda for future strategy (in the INDIA bloc), he said, “Whether this alliance will continue is also unclear.” The J&K Chief Minister also said that perhaps the members of the INDIA bloc will be called for a meeting after the Delhi elections, and a clarity would emerge. Replying to another query on increasing support for AAP ahead of next month’s Delhi elections, he said, “I cannot say anything about this at the moment because we have no involvement with Delhi polls. The Aam Aadmi Party, Congress, and other political parties on the ground will decide how to compete with the BJP strongly.” Stating that AAP succeeded twice in Delhi previously, he said, “This time, we will have to wait and see what the people of Delhi decide.”
