Says “My Hope For Swift Restoration Of Statehood Has Faded But Determined To Fight For It”
Srinagar|August 15: In a powerful address on the 79th Independence Day, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced a new initiative to press for the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir: a door-to-door signature campaign. Addressing Independence Day Parade at Bakshi Stadium Srinagar Chief Minister stressed that while his hope for a swift restoration of statehood has faded, he remains determined to fight for the issue, which he called “the issue of everyone here.”
A Speech After 11 Years Reflecting on his last Independence Day speech as Chief Minister 11 years ago, Abdullah spoke of the significant changes and losses J&K has endured. “Last time, I was speaking as the CM of state, but today, I am speaking as the CM of UT,” he said. He lamented the loss of the region’s special status, its flag, and its constitution, stating that even statehood has been “snatched.”
The Fight for Statehood Continues Abdullah said that he and his colleagues will go to every single assembly constituency to collect signatures from the people of J&K. The signed documents will then be presented to the Centre and other relevant authorities. He emphasized that this campaign marks a shift from simply writing letters to taking a more direct and grassroots approach. Abdullah likened the current government to a “horse whose legs have been tied and is asked to reach the destination,” expressing the frustration of governing without the full powers of a state.
Condolences for Kishtwar Cloudburst Victims During his speech, the Chief Minister also extended his condolences to the families affected by the Kishtwar cloudburst tragedy. He confirmed that 60 people had died and more than 100 were injured. He assured the people of Kishtwar that the government would provide “every possible assistance” and that an investigation would be launched to determine if more could have been done to prevent the tragedy, despite a weather alert
