 Early Times Report
Jammu, June 8: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday sought the support of constituents of the INDIA Bloc for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, urging opposition parties from across the country to join the National Conference’s proposed protest in New Delhi during the forthcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Raising the issue at the INDIA Bloc meeting held in the national capital today, Omar Abdullah informed leaders of various opposition parties about the National Conference’s decision to launch a sustained campaign for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. He appealed to alliance partners to lend their support to the movement and participate in the proposed protest programme in Delhi.
According to sources present at the meeting, Omar Abdullah emphasized that the demand for the restoration of statehood is not merely a political issue of the National Conference but a larger democratic concern that reflects the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He reportedly told the gathering that the people of the Union Territory have repeatedly expressed their desire for the restoration of the democratic and constitutional status that existed before the reorganization of the erstwhile state in August 2019.
The Chief Minister urged leaders of constituent parties of the INDIA alliance to stand in solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and support their demand for the restoration of full statehood. He is understood to have argued that the issue transcends political affiliations and should be viewed as a matter concerning democratic rights, representative governance and federal principles.
Sources said Omar informed the meeting that the National Conference would formally approach opposition parties and senior leaders in the coming weeks to seek their participation in the campaign. He expressed hope that a united opposition voice on the issue would strengthen the demand and send a strong message in support of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief Minister’s appeal assumes significance as the National Conference has intensified its political campaign on the statehood issue following the formation of its government in Jammu and Kashmir after the Assembly elections. The party has repeatedly maintained that the restoration of Demand for the restoration of statehood is not merely a political issue but a larger democratic concern.
It reflects the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The National Conference would formally approach opposition parties and senior leaders to seek their participation in the campaign.
I hope that a united opposition voice on the issue would strengthen the demand and send a strong message in support of the people of J&K.
Only a few days ago, the National Conference announced that it would stage a major protest in New Delhi on the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The proposed demonstration is aimed at pressing the Union Government to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and provide constitutional guarantees safeguarding the rights and interests of its people.
The decision to launch the protest was taken during a marathon meeting of National Conference legislators and Members of Parliament held recently at Dachigam near Srinagar. During the meeting, the party leadership resolved to intensify its political and parliamentary efforts on the statehood issue, describing the present moment as the most appropriate time to raise the demand forcefully before the Centre.
The National Conference leadership has consistently argued that while Assembly elections have been conducted and an elected government is in place, the democratic process will remain incomplete until Jammu and Kashmir regains full statehood. Party leaders have also cited repeated assurances from the Union Government regarding the eventual restoration of statehood and have called for those commitments to be fulfilled without further delay.
Political observers view Omar Abdullah’s effort to secure the backing of the INDIA Bloc as an attempt to build a broader national consensus on the issue ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. By seeking support from major opposition parties, the National Conference hopes to transform the demand for statehood from a regional political issue into a national democratic concern that can be raised collectively inside and outside Parliament.
The INDIA Bloc meeting, attended by senior leaders of opposition parties from across the country, discussed a range of political and parliamentary issues ahead of the upcoming session.
With the Monsoon Session approaching, the statehood issue is expected to dominate the National Conference’s political agenda, and the party is likely to step up its outreach to opposition parties in an effort to mobilize support for its proposed protest and its broader demand for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. | 