Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday announced a large-scale signature campaign to press for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, pledging to submit the collected signatures to the Supreme Court.
Referring to remarks made by the Supreme Court regarding the Pahalgam attack during hearings on the statehood plea, Abdullah described it as “unfortunate” that the people of the region are being penalized for a crime in which they had no part.
Addressing the public at Bakshi Stadium on Independence Day, the CM said the Supreme Court has granted the government eight weeks to respond.
“Starting today, we will utilize these eight weeks to go door to door across all 90 assembly segments for a signature campaign demanding the restoration of statehood. If the people are unwilling to sign, I will accept defeat,” he stated.
Abdullah emphasized the need to take the voices of the people directly to the institutions where decisions are made, noting that the collected signatures will be formally submitted to the apex court.
He expressed concern over the Supreme Court’s reference to the Pahalgam terror attack in the statehood hearing. “It is deeply regrettable that comments were made suggesting the Pahalgam attack should influence the decision on statehood. Should the killers of Pahalgam and their backers in a neighboring country decide whether we remain a state? Every time we approach statehood, external forces try to sabotage it. Is that fair? Why are we being punished for a crime we had no part in?” he asked.
Highlighting local solidarity, Abdullah added, “From Kathua to Kupwara, people spontaneously protested against the Pahalgam attack. Yet today, we face punishment for it.”
On April 22, terrorists killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists, in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam in south Kashmir.
