ibn sultan
New Delhi, July 20: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the Centre had “forced” the National Conference to stage a protest in the national capital by failing to fulfil its promise of restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking on the sidelines of the protest at Jantar Mantar, Abdullah said the party had been reminding the Union Government for the past two years about the commitments made in Parliament and before the Supreme Court regarding the restoration of statehood.
He said the National Conference had remained committed to its electoral mandate and, during the very first session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, passed a resolution seeking the restoration of the region’s special constitutional position and rights.
However, Abdullah clarified that Monday’s protest was focused solely on the demand for the restoration of statehood.
“Statehood comes first. Thereafter, we will pursue the resolutions passed by the Assembly. Everything will begin from there,” he said.
The National Conference has consistently maintained that the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood is its foremost political demand and has urged the Centre to honour its commitment without further delay.
