In the aftermath of the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah delivered a sharp message during a special session of the Union Territory’s Assembly: this is no time for political opportunism.
Rejecting calls from some House members to demand the restoration of statehood, Abdullah made it clear that he would not use the tragedy to press political demands. “The security in and Kashmir is not the responsibility of the UT’s elected government. But I will not use this occasion to seek statehood. How can I push for statehood now? I do not believe in cheap politics. Should I have no value for the 26 lives lost and go to the Centre demanding statehood now?” the National Conference leader said.
In the same speech, Abdullah, who holds the tourism portfolio as well, said it was his fundamental responsibility to guarantee the safety of visitors and that he failed in his duty.
The special Assembly session was convened specifically to discuss the brutal attack on April 22, which has sparked shockwaves across the region and the country. After observing a minute’s silence and paying tributes to the victims, the House pledging to “resolutely defeat the nefarious designs of those who seek to disturb the communal harmony and progress of the nation and of J&K.”
Reiterating that the focus must remain on condemning terrorism and standing in solidarity with the bereaved families, Abdullah stressed that the time for political conversations on statehood would come later. “We have talked about statehood (with the Central government) in the past and we will continue to talk about it in future, but not right now. This time there will be no politics on anything except condemnation of the terror act and expressing solidarity with the families who lost their kin,” the two-time chief minister said.
Just weeks before the attack, Abdullah had following his meeting with Union Home Minister . At the time, he had said, “We think the appropriate time has come, six months have passed since the Assembly elections. Shah came here, I had a separate meeting with him, a good one … I am still hopeful that JK will soon get its statehood back.”
However, Abdullah has consistently struck a measured tone on larger constitutional issues. While reaffirming his commitment to the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status — revoked in August 2019 after the abrogation of Article 370 — he has cautioned against unrealistic expectations.
Speaking at an earlier this year, Abdullah had said, “We have said we will continue to keep the issue alive, which we have done… But at no point did we ever mislead the people by telling them that they’re going to elect a government that is going to immediately get the special status restored.”
“To expect the people who took it away from us to give it back to us, just because we’re asking for it, is pointless,” he added.
