Not just PoK, bring back J&K part under China too: Omar

JAMMU, MAR 06: Responding to Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar’s remarks on Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, “One portion is with Pakistan, but another portion is with China—why doesn’t anyone talk about that? Who has stopped you from taking it back?” The comment came as Omar reaffirmed his commitment to the five-year agenda laid out in his party’s manifesto for Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), promising that the promises made would be fully realized during his tenure.
Addressing the J&K Legislative Assembly, CM Abdullah promised to honour the commitments made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, saying, “We prepared the manifesto with a lot of thought. It is our promise to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. During this five-year term, we will do all these things and present ourselves to you.”
His remarks were made while replying to the motion of thanks on the Lieutenant Governor’s Address. In his address, the Chief Minister, who also serves as the Leader of the House, emphasized the continuity of the government’s priorities, despite some criticisms regarding the omissions in the latest LG’s address.
“The government does not work from one address to another. The Government continues for five years. Four months ago, the LG presented his address. It is not necessary to repeat what was said then. This address is an addition to that,” Omar said, dismissing suggestions that certain issues had been ignored.
On various issues raised by members, Abdullah assured that questions from both treasury and opposition benches would be addressed, with discussions on the budget expected to continue in the coming days.
Omar Abdullah also took the opportunity to address concerns over the Public Safety Act (PSA), emphasizing that preventive detention should not replace legal prosecution. He criticized the misuse of PSA, reflecting on his own detention following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
“When you keep people in jail for years and do not prosecute them, it means you do not have a case against them,” Abdullah said, drawing attention to his own prolonged detention, which he described as politically motivated. “If you say they are stone throwers or OGWs, why do you need preventive detention? You can prosecute them in a court of law.”
While the debate on Article 370 dominated the proceedings, the Chief Minister downplayed the opposition’s focus on it. He questioned, “Which of these development projects were not possible before 2019 and without removing Article 370?” Omar challenged the narrative that the removal of the article was a prerequisite for development in the region.
Responding to the opposition’s claims on the legacy of Maharaja Hari Singh, Abdullah pointed out that the real loss for J&K was the abrogation of the state’s special status. He stressed the importance of State Subject laws in safeguarding the rights of local residents.
“What did the Maharaja leave for us apart from the geography of this region? State subject laws—our land was ours, our jobs were ours. Where are those laws now?” Abdullah asked. Drawing a comparison with Himachal Pradesh, he lamented that in J&K, anyone can now buy land or take a job, a drastic shift from previous protections.
Omar Abdullah also criticized the separation of Ladakh from J&K, stating that the move was made without proper consultation with the people of the region. “From the first day, the people there were not with this decision,” he said, highlighting the lack of local support for the change.
The Chief Minister condemned the derogatory remarks made against the martyrs of 13th July 1931, describing their sacrifices as central to the region’s historical fight for justice and rights. He questioned why there was no recognition of these sacrifices by the opposition, stating, “Their only fault was that they were Muslims. Accept this fact.”
He further clarified, “Whether you keep the 13th of July holiday or not, the sacrifices of those people cannot be erased from the hearts of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Concluding his speech, Abdullah reaffirmed his commitment to restoring J&K’s statehood. “There is no doubt here that everyone wants statehood. But there are doubts about who is truly in favor of it. Bring the resolution, and I am telling you today, we will talk about this and pass the resolution,” he declared.