Says Centre ‘must not mistake our patience for weakness’
Appeals to all political parties to join July 20 protest in New Delhi
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice President and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday called upon the Union Government to immediately restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, asserting that the Centre must not mistake the people’s patience for weakness, while addressing a grand convention held on the death anniversary of Madar-e-Meherban Begum Akbar Jehan.
He said that for nearly two years, his government had exercised restraint and patience, but patience should never be interpreted as silence or surrender. “Patience does not mean that we will stop raising our voice for our constitutional and democratic rights. It does not mean that anyone can take undue advantage of our restraint or consider us weak. Our patience is our strength, our voice, and, God willing, it will ultimately lead us to victory,” he said.
Omar Abdullah questioned why, despite nearly two years of his government being in office, they were now compelled to speak of protesting at Jantar Mantar. “There must be a reason that has forced us to take this course,” he remarked. He said that he had staked his political credibility on pursuing dialogue with the Centre instead of confrontation, despite knowing that such an approach could carry political costs, and had deliberately chosen to give the Union Government an opportunity to honour its commitments.
He reminded the gathering that the Union Government had assured the Supreme Court that the restoration of statehood would take place in three stages: delimitation, Assembly elections, and finally the restoration of full statehood. He expressed anguish over the continued delay. “If that was always the intention, why was it not stated before the Supreme Court? The commitment made before the Court was that statehood would be restored after the elections,” he said.
Drawing a comparison with Ladakh, Omar Abdullah asked why the Union Government was willing to engage in dialogue with Ladakh on constitutional safeguards under Article 371 and issues relating to administrative authority, while refusing similar engagement with Jammu and Kashmir. “We are only asking for the restoration of our constitutional status as a State,” he said.
He stated that he had raised the issue of statehood with the Prime Minister on every occasion, including meetings in Sonamarg and Kathua, but each time he was told that it would happen at the “appropriate time.” He questioned when that appropriate time would arrive, adding that if the Centre’s position was that statehood would only be restored after the BJP formed the government in Jammu and Kashmir, then it should state so openly instead of keeping the people under false expectations.
Omar Abdullah further alleged that fresh attempts were being made to engineer defections within the National Conference, claiming that after financial inducements and offers of ministerial positions failed, some legislators were allegedly being offered ₹20–30 crore, ministerial berths, and even promises of statehood to switch sides. “They should understand that our faith and our conscience are not for sale,” he declared.
Referring to the proposed protest programme on July 20, Omar Abdullah said the movement was not the struggle of one family or one political party, but of the entire people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said invitations had been extended to all political parties currently represented in the Assembly, as well as those previously represented, to participate in the campaign. “Statehood does not belong to the National Conference alone; it belongs to every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Concluding his address, Omar Abdullah announced that peaceful demonstrations would be held at all district headquarters on July 20, with the sole demand of restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, describing the protest as the beginning of a broader democratic movement.