CM Says “Centre must restore statehood without further delay”
“July 20 protest a people’s movement, not an NC prog”
Srinagar: Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to destabilise the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir through political inducements and horse-trading, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday alleged that National Conference (NC) legislators had been offered ₹20–30 crore, ministerial positions and even assurances of restoration of statehood in exchange for switching allegiance.
Addressing a massive National Conference workers’ convention at Naseem Bagh in Hazratbal on the 26th death anniversary of Begum Akbar Jehan, CM Omar launched a sharp attack on the BJP and the Union Government over the continued delay in restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
He asserted that the Centre must not mistake the patience of the people and the elected government for weakness, warning that the time had come for a united democratic movement to reclaim the constitutional rights of Jammu and Kashmir.
The convention, attended by thousands of party workers, senior ministers, legislators, Members of Parliament and office-bearers from across Jammu and Kashmir, marked the first major show of organisational strength by the ruling National Conference after returning to power.
CM Omar alleged that attempts were being made to engineer defections within the National Conference after earlier efforts to lure legislators with political positions had failed.
“Attempts are being made to break the National Conference. First they tried to buy our legislators with money and ministerial berths. When that failed, they started telling our MLAs behind closed doors that if they joined them, they would restore statehood. This is how they are trying to enter Jammu and Kashmir through the back door,” he said.
The Chief Minister claimed that an NC legislator from Jammu personally informed him that a BJP office-bearer, who is also a Supreme Court lawyer, had offered him between ₹20 crore and ₹30 crore along with a ministerial berth and the promise of restoration of statehood.
“That MLA came to me and said he had been offered ₹20–30 crore, a ministry and statehood if he supported them. They think people’s faith is so weak that they can purchase elected representatives with money. They have completely misunderstood the National Conference,” Omar said.
Declaring that no NC legislator would betray the public mandate, CM Omar said the party’s representatives had inherited a political legacy built on sacrifice and principles rather than personal gain.
“There is not a single legislator sitting on this stage who will sell his integrity for ₹30 crore, ₹50 crore or even ₹100 crore. We know we are answerable before Almighty Allah. Our conscience is not for sale and neither is the mandate given to us by the people,” he asserted.
Taking a direct swipe at the BJP, CM Omar said the party should not assume it could acquire power in Jammu and Kashmir through political manipulation.
“Do not think we are weak enough to allow you to enter through the back door. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have kept you out of power. You will never occupy the chair from the back door when the people have denied you the front door,” he remarked.
Shifting focus to the issue of statehood, CM Omar said the Union Government’s continued delay in restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s full constitutional status had become increasingly difficult to justify.
“For nearly two years we have exercised patience. But patience should never be mistaken for surrender. It does not mean we will stop demanding our constitutional and democratic rights. Our patience is our strength, not our weakness,” he said.
The Chief Minister said he had consciously chosen the path of dialogue instead of confrontation despite criticism from political opponents.
“Many people expected us to confront New Delhi immediately after assuming office. I deliberately chose dialogue because I wanted to give the Government of India an opportunity to honour the promises it had made. I staked my own political credibility on that approach,” he said.
Recalling the proceedings before the Supreme Court during the hearing on Article 370, CM Omar said the Union Government had clearly assured the apex court that restoration of statehood would follow a three-stage process comprising delimitation, Assembly elections and restoration of full statehood.
“We accepted the delimitation exercise despite knowing that it was designed to benefit a particular political party. Seven Assembly seats were added and six of those ultimately went to the BJP while only one came to the National Conference. Even then, we accepted the process because we believed democracy would prevail,” he said.
CM Omar maintained that the people had defeated attempts to manipulate democracy by giving the National Conference a decisive mandate in the Assembly elections.
“The people spoke clearly through the ballot. They rejected those who wanted to rule without public support. Yet, after the elections, the promise made before the Supreme Court has not been honoured,” he said.
Questioning the Centre’s intentions, Omar asked why the restoration of statehood had not taken place despite completion of the electoral process.
“If the intention was never to restore statehood after elections, then why was that commitment made before the Supreme Court? Why were the people led to believe that their constitutional status would be restored?” he asked.
The Chief Minister also criticised the limited authority available to the elected government, saying important decisions continued to remain outside its control.
“If officers are expected to take instructions only from the Lieutenant Governor Secretariat, if decisions regarding administration, employees and governance remain outside the elected government’s authority, then what purpose did these elections serve? Democracy cannot function in such a restricted environment,” he said.
He said despite these limitations, his government had continued to work sincerely and deliver governance within the constitutional space available.
“We have done everything possible within the powers we possess. But governance alone cannot substitute the restoration of democratic rights. Jammu and Kashmir deserves an elected government with full constitutional authority,” Omar said.
Drawing comparisons with Ladakh, Omar questioned why the Centre was willing to engage in discussions over constitutional safeguards and administrative powers there while delaying similar engagement with Jammu and Kashmir.
“Ladakh’s leaders are being heard on issues relating to constitutional safeguards, administrative authority and financial powers. Why is Jammu and Kashmir being treated differently when we are only asking for restoration of statehood?” he asked.
The Chief Minister disclosed that he had raised the issue of statehood with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on every available occasion, including meetings in Sonamarg and Kathua.
“Every time I have been told that statehood will be restored at the appropriate time. I want to ask: when will that appropriate time arrive? If the Centre intends to restore statehood only after the BJP forms a government in Jammu and Kashmir, then it should say so openly instead of creating false expectations,” he said.
He alleged that promises regarding restoration of statehood had repeatedly been linked with successive political milestones, first Parliamentary elections, then Assembly elections and now Panchayat and Urban Local Body polls.
“We support local body elections and they should certainly be held. But restoration of statehood cannot become an endlessly postponed promise tied to every future election,” Omar said.
Warning against testing the patience of the people, Omar said history had shown the consequences of ignoring democratic aspirations in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The patience, dignity and restraint of our people should not be tested endlessly. Have no lessons been learnt from the past? Does anyone want Jammu and Kashmir to witness instability once again? We seek justice through peaceful and democratic means,” he said.
Calling the July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar a people’s movement rather than a party programme, Omar appealed to all political parties, irrespective of ideology, to join the campaign.
“This is not the struggle of one family or one political party. Statehood belongs to every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir. We have invited all political parties, whether they are represented in the Assembly today or not, because this issue is above party politics,” he said.
He announced that peaceful demonstrations would also be organised at district headquarters across Jammu and Kashmir on July 20 to press for restoration of statehood.
“The movement begins on July 20, but it will continue peacefully and democratically until Jammu and Kashmir regains the constitutional status that was promised. Our struggle is constitutional, democratic and for the dignity of our people,” Omar added.
