Srinagar, August 15 (PTI): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah delivered a powerful Independence Day speech on Friday, vehemently criticizing the linkage of Jammu and Kashmir's political future to acts of terrorism.
He emphasized that Pakistan should not be permitted to influence the region's statehood decisions through terrorism.
This marked Abdullah's first speech since becoming chief minister after Jammu and Kashmir was downgraded from a state to a union territory.
His remarks followed a Supreme Court observation, where a bench led by Chief Justice of India B R Gavai highlighted the need to consider the "ground situation" in the region before restoring its statehood, taking incidents like Pahalgam into account.
The Independence Day celebrations took place at Bakshi Stadium.
Abdullah described the mention of Pahalgam as "unfortunate," questioning whether the perpetrators of violence in Pahalgam and their supporters in Pakistan should determine Jammu and Kashmir's statehood status.
"Every time we approach statehood, they attempt to sabotage it.
Is this fair? Why are we being penalized for an act we had no part in?" he queried, emphasizing the local population's opposition to the attack, with protests occurring "from Kathua to Kupwara."
"Regrettably, today we are being penalized for the Pahalgam attack," he lamented.
On April 22, Pakistani terrorists killed 26 civilians, primarily tourists, in the Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, South Kashmir.
Abdullah also announced plans for a massive signature campaign demanding the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir during the eight-week period provided by the Supreme Court for the Centre to respond to the plea.
"Starting today, we'll conduct a door-to-door signature campaign in all 90 assembly segments advocating for statehood restoration.
If people refuse to sign, I'll concede defeat," he stated, expressing confidence in achieving widespread support for the statehood demand.
"We must take these voices from our offices to the decision-makers' doors," Abdullah asserted, concluding that the signature campaign documents will be submitted to the Supreme Court. (
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