New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in his address after hoisting the tricolor in Srinagar on the occasion of Independence Day, has made a scathing attack on the Central Government over the disarmament of Article 370 and abolition of statehood. Omar Abdullah claimed that if the Central Government had not snatched the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, today the people of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) would also have taken to the streets demanding merger with Jammu and Kashmir. Immediately after his statement, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) targeted the Chief Minister, terming it extremely irresponsible to make such remarks on a national festival.
Omar Abdullah's big claim
Omar Abdullah expressed deep sorrow over the ongoing protests in PoK and the treatment of civilians there. Recalling the history of 1947, he praised the leadership of his grandfather Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, who united Kashmiris against the tribals even before the arrival of the Indian Army.
He said that the slogan of 'Invader beware, we Kashmiris are ready' given by our ancestors in 1947 still applies today.
statehood
Omar Abdullah made it clear in his speech that his government will continue its struggle to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and restoration of the constitutional rights that were snatched away in August 2019. He said that this fight will not end until the last terrorist is eliminated and our rights are regained. The Chief Minister reminded that even today seats have been kept vacant for PoK in the Assembly, in the hope that someday the representatives there will fill them by becoming a part of India. According to the Chief Minister, strengthening federalism should start from Jammu and Kashmir itself and the rights that have been snatched from the state should be returned without any delay.
BJP's counterattack
Reacting to this statement of Omar Abdullah, Leader of Opposition in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and BJP leader Sunil Sharma called it unfortunate. Sunil Sharma said that on a national and historical occasion like Independence Day, where everyone should have united and celebrated the national flag, the Chief Minister chose political rhetoric. He said Omar Abdullah should have used this platform to share the performance of his government and the development roadmap of the Union Territory, but he used it only to target the Center and do narrow politics. According to the Chief Minister, strengthening federalism should start from Jammu and Kashmir itself and the rights that have been snatched from the state should be returned without any delay.