Statehood needs action, not autographs: Hakeem on CM’s signature campaign

Srinagar, Aug 16: People’s Democratic Front (PDF) president and former minister, Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen on Saturday expressed scepticism over Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s announcement to launch a massive door-to-door signature campaign for the restoration of statehood to Jammu & Kashmir.Addressing a gathering at Gurwait, Budgam, Yaseen said the people of J&K have complete faith in the Supreme Court, which has granted the Centre eight weeks to respond to the plea seeking restoration of statehood. “We hope and believe that statehood will be restored with full dignity and honour,” he said.However, Hakeem questioned Omar Abdullah’s motives, calling the campaign a “belated political gimmick”.“Where was this urgency in the past five years? The people’s mandate is not a tool for showmanship. If Omar Abdullah truly cared, he would have launched such initiatives long ago, instead of waiting for the Supreme Court’s deadline to make headlines,” he said. “Instead of wasting time on a signature campaign, Omar Abdullah should bring a proper bill in the Assembly to press for statehood. If you need our assistance in the Opposition, we are ready for it. This signature campaign will be an insult to the people’s mandate.”Yaseen said that while the PDF supports any democratic movement for statehood, leadership must come with sincerity, not electoral calculations. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir do not need symbolic gestures; they need committed political action and united pressure on the Centre,” he added.He appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to restore statehood without delay, preferably in the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. “This is not a favour from Delhi; it is our constitutional right,” he stressed.The PDF chief criticised the administration for keeping several tourism destinations in Budgam closed despite repeated pleas from locals.“By keeping these places shut, you are denying thousands of families their livelihood. If the government can reopen tourist spots in other parts of J&K, why not Budgam?” he asked.Hakeem also appealed for the immediate revocation of restrictions on major tourist destinations in Budgam, including Doodhpathri, Yousmarg, and Tosamaidan.He said these bans have badly hit the tourism-dependent economy, depriving thousands of families of their livelihoods in sectors like transport, pony services, hotels, handicrafts, and local markets.“The Lieutenant Governor has assured me during a recent meeting that these restrictions will be lifted soon. We expect this promise to be implemented on a fast-track basis. The revival of tourism will open multiple avenues for self-employment and economic revival,” he said.