Says Statehood not a favour but a promise by GoI
Srinagar, Sep 29: What could be a veiled threat to the centre, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that a situation like Leh over the restoration of statehood must not form in Jammu and Kashmir. He added that the statehood to the region is not a favour, but a promise made with the people here as well as in the Supreme Court.
Speaking to the media persons here, the Chief Minister said the situation witnessed a couple of days back in Leh should not form here in Jammu and Kashmir.
“It doesn’t take time for any situation to worsen. We would never want innocent blood to be shed here. We will continue to raise our demand,” he said while replying to a query over the Leh situation, adding that statehood is not a favour but a promise made by the Government of India to the people of J&K and the Supreme Court.
Omar said the delimitation and elections have been done, and now the government needs to fulfil their promise of statehood. “People are very calm about the whole thing, but they should not take undue advantage of this,” he said.
The CM, addressing the gathering, said the people of Ladakh were happy and even celebrated the Centre’s decision to downgrade the erstwhile State into two union territories.
“The people of Leh requested a UT and got it,” he said. “A former minister, who served during late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed’s tenure, recently made a statement that they (Ldakhis) have come to know that it was Article 370 that saved them in the last 70 years.”
These are the people who were satisfied with the situation in 2019, Omar said. “They were happy. Today, those people are also regretting seeing the situation. They also feel there is no progress in UT.”
The Chief Minister said New Delhi’s August 2019 decision was not made after seeking permissions. “But in Ladakh, it has been done as per the aspirations and demands of the people,” he said.
Omar said that despite facing multiple challenges and “interference” in the Union Territory, the government led by him will not let the people down in any way.
“We are not even those people who take the law into their own hands and spoil the atmosphere. Despite facing the challenges, we are working. We have not wasted these 10 months. In a few days, when the government’s one year is over, we will come up with the achievements and tell the people of Jammu and Kashmir that no time has been wasted,” he said.
CM Abdullah further said that he couldn’t do the work he wanted to do in the previous government, and then, for about 11 years, it was kept in a box.
“Now my complete effort is that this time we start the work of the new Ganderbal Hydroelectric Project, which will benefit the people of the district. This is our plan, and we will do it,” he added.
The Chief Minister laid foundation stones for six major sports infrastructure projects at Beehama, Ganderbal, marking a significant investment in the district’s sports ecosystem. The projects include the upgradation of Beehama Stadium, Madr-e-Meharban Stadium, and playfields at Gund Rehman, Manigam, Wakura & Batwina, aimed at nurturing local sports talent.
Omar also unveiled new sports equipment for youth, followed by impressive demonstrations by Judo, Thang-Ta & Yoga athletes, showcasing Ganderbal’s vibrant sporting spirit.
