Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday renewed his call for the restoration of special status and statehood to the region, terming it essential for upholding the nation’s federal structure.
Addressing the Independence Day function at the Bakshi Stadium, Abdullah said that if Jammu and Kashmir’s special position under Article 370 had not been revoked in 2019, the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) would today be protesting to reunite with Jammu and Kashmir.
“When I see the situation across the border and the Line of Control, I realise that our ancestors who said ‘hamlavar khabardar, hum Kashmiri hain tayyar’ (Attackers beware, Kashmiris are prepared) were right. I realise that 80 years ago, the decision (of joining India) our leaders took for us was the right decision,” Abdullah said.
The J&K Chief Minister recalled NC leader Master Abdul Aziz, who was killed in Muzaffarabad while trying to stop the Pakistan army-backed tribal invasion.
Highlighting the current situation in PoK, Abdullah reiterated that India considers them its own people and highlighted that seats remain reserved for representatives from PoK in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in the hope that they will one day occupy them.
“If our situation had not been altered in 2019, the people of that part of Jammu and Kashmir across the LoC would have been protesting to reunite with us,” he said. The J&K Chief Minister further stated that restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s original constitutional guarantees and statehood is vital for renewing the spirit of Indian federalism.
Abdullah reassured the people of Jammu and Kashmir and said that his government’s dedication is to serving their interests and achieving the vision of those who sacrificed their lives for the region. “To honour that martyrdom, we will realise the dreams they left us as their legacy – whether it is getting back the special status, restoring constitutional guarantees for Jammu and Kashmir, regaining statehood, or leading a new era of progress,” he added.
Terming democracy and federalism as the two greatest pillars of the nation, Abdullah said, “Our country is a union of states. To save and strengthen federalism, we must start with Jammu and Kashmir. Whatever was snatched from us should be returned so that our identity does not just remain in words, but is put into practice,” he added.
(With agency inputs)