JAMMU — National Conference leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday vowed to continue pressing for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, after hopes that the issue would be addressed in the recently concluded Monsoon Session of Parliament faded.
“Leave it now, the hope has gone, the water has crossed over. We will start our process from here,” Abdullah told reporters in Jammu, signaling that the demand for statehood would not be abandoned despite the setback. “If we need to struggle a bit, have to work hard a bit… that we will do.”
Speaking at the 56th Raising Day celebrations of Sainik School, Nagrota, where he also inaugurated the new Triveni Girls Hostel, Abdullah accused the Centre of using proposed anti-corruption bills selectively against opposition leaders. “For now, all the cases registered and arrests made are against the opposition. If this is truly about ending corruption, what has been the impact of the government’s work since 2014?” he asked.
He stressed that laws themselves are not inherently unjust, but warned against political misuse. “No law is inherently bad — the misuse of a law is what makes it wrong. My friends in the BJP should remember they will not remain in power forever. The very law they use against others today could tomorrow be used against them,” Abdullah cautioned.
On the recent dismissal of two government employees over alleged terror links, he said the decision was taken by Raj Bhavan, not his administration. Addressing cloudburst relief measures, he assured, “We are providing as much relief as we can, and if more is needed after assessment, we will provide that too.”
