Srinagar, Sep 28: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday launched a sharp attack on the BJP during the Assembly debate on statehood, questioning why Jammu and Kashmir must wait for “guns to go silent” and asking whether the Centre itself could not restore the region’s statehood.
Replying to the debate on the resolution, Omar said he was aware that his “friends” in the opposition would not be happy with it and would try to disrupt the House.
“I knew that my friends (opposition BJP) will not be happy with my resolution and they will try to disrupt the House. So the resolution was prepared with utmost care,” Omar said.
He also urged members of the ruling benches not to press for amendments to the resolution, saying this could provide the BJP with a reason to oppose it.
“Please don’t press for your amendments because that gives a reason to BJP to oppose the resolution,” he told the ruling party members.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma and other BJP members raised slogans of “Delhi ke saath aankh macholi bandh karo” in the House.
Responding to the argument that statehood would be restored after the guns fell silent, Omar questioned whether this effectively meant waiting for Pakistan to stop firing before Jammu and Kashmir could regain statehood.
“You are waiting for guns to go silent, following which statehood will be restored. So does it mean you are waiting for Pakistan to keep guns silent and that will pave the way for restoration of statehood?” Omar asked.
“So can’t our own government, our own Prime Minister give us the statehood?” he said.
Omar also highlighted what he described as the limitations faced by the elected government under the Union Territory arrangement.
Referring to the appointment of the Advocate General and other pending matters, he said these remained unresolved because Jammu and Kashmir continued to be a Union Territory.
“Ask the member (R.S. Pathania) who is raising slogans. Ask him to name any State without having an Advocate General for two years,” Omar said.
He also referred to the functioning of the Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, saying the elected government did not exercise control over it as the institution came under the Lieutenant Governor.
“What does the Cultural Academy have to do with law and order?” he asked.
On universities, Omar said the change in the administrative structure had also reduced the role of the elected government.
He referred to the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), saying that while he had earlier served as its Chancellor as Chief Minister, the position was now held by the Lieutenant Governor.
“As Chief Minister, I have no role in decision-making,” he said.
Taking another swipe at the BJP, Omar questioned why some of its members were raising slogans against restoration of statehood.
“I wonder how they are raising slogans against statehood,” he said, adding that many BJP members wanted statehood restored but could not express their views openly.
“Don’t know from which corner they got the dictation,” Omar said.