Man of the Match, Omar Abdullah says, New Cabinet’s first resolution must be Restoration of Statehood
Says, “issues & difficulties won’t be resolved by fighting with Delhi, essential to coordinate with them; Can’t retain both seats, Will give up one”
Aazan Manzoor
Srinagar, 9 Oct (KB): Newly elected MLA and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that the new cabinet’s decision must be to pass a resolution for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar Abdullah won both seats from Ganderbal and Budgam, while his party won 42 seats in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.
Omar Abdullah while talking to reporters in Srinagar as per news agency Kashmir Bulletin said, “I am very thankful to the voters of J&K that they utilised their votes despite democracy being not allowed to thrive here for the last 8-10 years. NC-Cong alliance received the majority. Voters voted with due deliberation, especially in the areas where conspiracies were being hatched to divide votes through Independent candidates and small parties. Our responsibility begins now, voters have done their duty. It is now our duty to work and be worthy of the voters.”
“There is a difference between Delhi and us. Delhi was never a full state and nobody ever promised to make it a state. J&K was a state before 2019 and restoration of statehood has been promised to us. PM, HM & senior ministers of BJP have promised this and said again and again that three steps will be taken in J&K – delimitation, election and then statehood. Delimitation and elections are done, now statehood remains. After the formation of the government here, I hope the first decision of the cabinet is to pass a resolution to grant statehood and the resolution is presented to the PM, Omar said.”
“Let the government be formed. Ask this to the CM who will get elected. My suggestion would be that it is essential to coordinate with New Delhi. Our issues and difficulties won’t be resolved by fighting with Delhi (Centre). We won’t accept the politics of BJP and BJP won’t accept our politics, we will have a rivalry with BJP. But it is not our compulsion to fight with the Centre.
When asked, about how relations will work with the centre after government formation, Omar said, I think proper relations with the Centre will be good for J&K and the people of J&K. People of J&K have not voted for fights, they voted because they want jobs, progress, statehood, relief in power supply and resolution of other issues.”
“I would suggest them to not do it (nominate from BJP). Nominating these 5 won’t change the government, so what is the use of it? You would unnecessarily nominate 5 people to sit in Opposition. There would be a fight as we would then have to approach the Supreme Court and appeal against it, Omar said.
There would be tensions in our relations with the Centre from the first day, a relation that we want to build. Let the Government be formed, let them give suggestions and on that basis, LG should nominate, these 5 MLAs won’t make a change. Independent candidates are talking to us, they will join us so our lead will go up.”
On being asked, which seat from Budgam and Ganderbal he will give up, Omar said, “I can’t retain both seats. I will have to give up one. I will discuss with my colleagues and tell you about the decision that will be made,” Omar said. (KB)
