Early Times Report
Jammu, July 17: National Conference vice-president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has not lost hope of getting statehood back for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir before the Assembly elections.
“The experiment of the Union Territory has failed. I hope that statehood will be restored to Jammu and Kashmir before the Assembly elections so that a strong popular government will make decisions in the favour of the people”, Omar Abdullah said while interacting with reporters at Srinagar.
Commenting on the status of Jammu and Kashmir as a Union Territory, Abdullah expressed concerns about the lack of local power. “The power does not lie with the people. However, the Prime Minister and Home Minister have assured us that statehood will be restored soon after elections,” he said, referring to recent notifications granting more powers to the Lieutenant Governor.
He said that after the formation of the popular government after the Assembly elections all powers would be restored to the duly elected Chief Minister.
Important to mention here that last month Omar Abdullah reiterated that he would not contest the Assembly polls in the present status.
Omar argued that it would be humiliating for him to enter the Assembly of the Union Territory.
After suffering a defeat in the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat at the hands of Independent candidate Abdul Rashid Sheikh, also known as Engin The experiment of the Union Territory has failed.
I hope that statehood will be restored to J&K.
After the formation of the popular government all powers would be restored to the elected Chief Minister.
After suffering a defeat in the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat Omar had announced that he will not participate in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Omar clarified, “I won’t contest the Assembly elections. While I’ll actively support my party and lead the campaign, I won’t seek a seat in the Union Territory’s Assembly.” He emphasized his commitment to the party’s victory in the assembly elections.
Omar Abdullah further expressed his determination to advocate for the full statehood of Jammu and Kashmir and the restoration of its previous status. He stated, “Only after achieving full statehood, if feasible, will I consider entering the Assembly to contribute.”.
Omar added, “I won’t subject myself to humiliation by joining the Assembly of the Union Territory.”
Earlier on November 3, 2022. National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah had announced that Omar Abdullah would not contest assembly elections till J&K’s statehood was restored. Farooq said Omar has already clarified that he will not contest elections till the statehood of J&K is restored.
Notably, in 2020, after his release from prolonged detention, Omar Abdullah had said he would not contest assembly elections till J&K remains a Union Territory. Omar argued that he had been a leader of the state, that it was the most empowered assembly in the country, and that he could not and will not be a member of what is now one of the most disempowered assemblies in the country. | 