Amit Shah asserts that J&K’s statehood will be restored at ‘an appropriate time’; Omar Abdullah says BJP should be honest if restoration is conditional to them taking office
Omar Abdullah, J&K CM and Amit Shah, Union Home Minister
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday promised restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir at “an appropriate time” and a “good resolution” of demands raised by people of the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Speaking at a media conclave in Patna, he also claimed that after the abrogation of Article 370, terror-infested Jammu and Kashmir has “taken a U-turn.” He said, “This is a qualitative change that Jammu and Kashmir, where separatism had been festering since the 1990s, witnessed. Earlier, Pakistan felt no need to send terrorists from across the border. They used to place arms in the hands of our children. Now the situation has changed. The people of Jammu and Kashmir feel they belong to the entire country and the entire country belongs to them.”
“Today, democracy has been restored in Jammu and Kashmir. Panchayat and municipal polls have taken place, and so have elections for the legislative assembly. Rajya Sabha elections will also take place at some time,” he added.
He was asked about a statement by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who spoke of a “gulf” remaining between J&K and New Delhi on account of statehood not being restored even after a year of his swearing in. Shah replied, “He [Abdullah] may be saying this out of political compulsions. But statehood would be restored at an appropriate time. And it will be done following discussions with him.”
Abdullah, however, on Saturday asserted he will not ally with the BJP to hasten the restoration of statehood to the Union territory. The chief minister said if the restoration of statehood is dependent on the BJP coming to power in J&K, then the national party should be honest in saying so. “Because the BJP in its manifesto and its promises to Parliament and to the Supreme Court never said that statehood is dependent on the BJP coming to power in J&K.”
“No,” Abdullah said at a press conference when asked whether his party would ally with the BJP for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. He added, “We have already seen how much that has destroyed J&K. An unnecessary alliance between the PDP and the BJP was born in 2015. We are still suffering the after-effects of that. I have no intention of repeating mistakes that other people have made,” the CM added.
11
November is the date of bypolls in J&K
CM shows support for J&K Congress
Tariq Karra. Pic/PRS INDIA
J&K Congress on Saturday said it was weighing all options on fielding candidates for the two assembly seats in the Union territory where bypolls are to be held on November 11 in the Budgam assembly segment in the Kashmir valley, and Nagrota in the Jammu region.
On Friday, Abdullah said that while his party (National Conference) will contest the Budgam seat, it would support the Congress’s candidate from Nagrota, if fielded.
However, when Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Karra was asked if the party was weighing options to contest both the seats, the JKPCC chief reiterated that the decision lies with the high command; however, he added that “all the options are open”.
The Central Shalteng MLA also said the party has resumed its ‘Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq’ programme to press for the restoration of statehood to J&K.
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