During his Independence Day speech at Bakshi Stadium, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that he believes he’s paying a political price for his faith in India’s democracy and the Central government. He said he had hoped they would restore Jammu and Kashmir’s rights, including statehood.
Abdullah acknowledged that he took a significant political risk by believing that Jammu and Kashmir could achieve its goals through India’s democratic process rather than by confronting the Central government. “Probably, I have paid a political price for it,” he said.
While he didn’t have high expectations, Abdullah noted that recent speculation about the Centre announcing the reinstatement of statehood around Independence Day had given him some hope. “I was being constantly told that the documents are ready and now just the announcement is to be made. But the announcement never came,” he explained, adding that while “the ray of hope is fading,” he would not give up.
Despite the challenges of a dual power structure in a Union Territory, Abdullah highlighted his government’s accomplishments over the past 10 months. He pointed to resolutions passed in the legislative assembly for the restoration of both special status and statehood. He also noted the positive impact of the government’s budget on the lives of people in sectors such as education, health, social welfare, transport, tourism, and agriculture. “This government’s efforts have been focused on properly utilising whatever powers were vested with us, so that people can benefit,” he concluded.
