“Will not use this moment to demand statehood”: CM Omar Abdullah
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday affirmed that he won’t be demanding statehood for Jammu and Kashmir in the name of the 26 people who have died in Pahalgam’s terror attack on April 22.
Addressing a special session at the J&K legislative assembly, the J&K CM questioned if his politics were “so cheap” that he would demand statehood on the back of such an attack.
He, however, stated that he would still demand statehood for the region, but not at this very moment when the country still mourns the loss of the 26 people.
“I will not use this moment to demand statehood. After Pahalgam, with what face can I ask for statehood for Jammu and Kashmir? Meri kya itni sasti siyasat hai? We have talked about statehood in the past and will do so in the future too, but it will be shameful on my part if I go and tell the central government that 26 people have died; now give me statehood,” Abdullah said.
An emotional Abdullah said that he did not know how he should apologise to the families of the victims of the attack.
“I did not know how to apologise to the families of the deceased… As the host, it was my duty to ensure the tourists returned safely. I couldn’t do it. I do not have the words to seek an apology… What should I say to those children who lost their father and to a wife who lost her husband, who got married a few days back? They asked what was our fault; we just came for the holidays… Whoever did this says they did it for us, but I want to ask: Did we approve it? Did we tell them to do this? We are not in support of this attack,” he said
Abdullah said that the hope had come from the vocal protests against this incident by the people of Kashmir.
“In every bad situation, we should look for a ray of hope, but it’s very difficult to find such a light in these times… But for the first time in 26 years, I have seen the people of Jammu and Kashmir coming out condemning the attack, saying that it was not done in my name… Violence and terrorism can only end when we are all united… We should not take any such step which pushes people away… no remark, no action of any kind,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly passed the resolution condemning the Pahalgam Terrorist Attack, following which the Assembly proceedings were adjourned sine die.
Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary moved a resolution to condemn the Pahalgam terror attack and endorsed the diplomatic measures announced by the Union Government after the Cabinet Committee on Security meeting.
The resolution emphasised the attack as an assault on the values of “Kashmiriyat”, the Constitution, and the spirit of unity, peace, and harmony in Jammu and Kashmir and expressed full solidarity with the victims and their families, offering condolences to those affected.
The attack in Pahalgam is one of the deadliest attacks in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike, in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, India has taken strong measures against Pakistan for its support of cross-border terrorism. (ANI)
