‘Want to light a fire here?’: Omar attacks Centre on delay in restoring Jammu and Kashmir statehood
‘Want to light a fire here?’: Omar Attacks Centre Over Delay in Restoring Jammu and Kashmir Statehood
Want to light a fire here - Jammu and Kashmir's Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, voiced frustration on Saturday over the Centre's slow progress in reinstating the state's status. He emphasized that the demand for statehood—excluding the Union Territory of Ladakh—remains central to his party's agenda. Abdullah urged the government to provide a definitive timeline, suggesting that the Centre's delay is testing the patience of J&K residents.
Abdullah questioned the central administration's rationale, pointing out that despite holding power for over 18 months, the National Conference-led government was contemplating protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. He highlighted the irony, asking why the Centre had not yet engaged with J&K's people on their statehood aspirations, even as it debated with Ladakh's electorate.
Historical Context of Statehood Revocation
At a party convention held at the Hazratbal mausoleum, commemorating his grandmother Akbar Jehan's 26th death anniversary, Abdullah posed a direct challenge. "If the Centre is willing to discuss statehood with Ladakh's people, why not with those of Jammu and Kashmir?" he asked, underscoring the disparity in treatment.
Jammu and Kashmir, once encompassing the current Ladakh UT, lost its statehood in August 2019 when the Centre revoked Article 370. The constitutional change took legal effect in October of the same year, splitting the state into two Union Territories. Abdullah criticized this move, accusing the BJP-led government of using the lieutenant governor to enforce control.
“If you had to harass people through the Raj Bhavan, dismiss employees, and deploy bulldozers, then why did you bring us forward?” he said, highlighting the tension between the Centre and the local administration.
Abdullah described the National Conference's electoral success in the UT as a "punishment" for J&K's people. He questioned the purpose of allowing his party to govern if it couldn't exercise authority, suggesting that elections were conducted with false hope of statehood restoration.
“We have to keep patience, as was shown by her. But patience is not the path of weakness,” he remarked, referencing his late grandmother’s enduring resilience.
He also defended his commitment to dialogue, stating that he risked his political future by advocating for rights through negotiation rather than confrontation. "This decision could be politically risky, but I chose to push for discussion," Abdullah explained, emphasizing his party's stance against violence.
“You have made a joke of our patience, decency, and silence. Do you want to light a fire here?” he asked, expressing his anger at the Centre's inaction.
Abdullah raised concerns about the timing of future elections, questioning whether the "appropriate time" for statehood would only arrive when the BJP returns to power in the region. He called for clarity, asserting that the Centre must acknowledge the urgency of the situation.
Addressing the role of electors, he wondered how many more elections would be necessary to achieve the goal of restoring statehood. "Now, you say you want to conduct local bodies and panchayat polls—we also want that," he said, while noting that the J&K government would determine the timing of such elections.
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