Srinagar, July 08: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood had already been delayed for too long, asserting that an overwhelming consensus had emerged across civil society in favour of its immediate reinstatement.
Speaking to reporters, Abdullah said a meeting attended by around 170 representatives from diverse sections of society—including religious leaders, trade bodies, retired bureaucrats and educationists—had unanimously endorsed the demand for statehood and passed a resolution urging the Centre to act without further delay.
“It was not merely a delegation; it was a meeting of the broader civil society,” Abdullah said. “Around 170 representatives from different walks of life participated… Without any exception, everyone said that the restoration of statehood has already been delayed too long and that the Centre should not delay it any further.”
The Chief Minister said the nearly three-hour meeting ended with the adoption of a one-paragraph resolution calling upon the Government of India to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood “immediately.”
“They supported our proposed programme at Jantar Mantar, and a one-paragraph resolution was passed urging the Government of India to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood immediately,” he said.
Abdullah also announced that invitations for the July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar would extend well beyond the INDIA bloc.
“Not just the INDIA bloc,” he said. “Invitations have been prepared for political parties in Jammu and Kashmir that are currently in the Assembly or have been part of it in the past.”
He said National Conference president Farooq Abdullah would send invitations to political parties across the country, including INDIA bloc constituents as well as parties outside both the INDIA alliance and the NDA.
“We are also inviting every INDIA bloc leader, as well as parties outside both the INDIA bloc and the NDA… We hope they will support our protest on the 20th,” he said.
Replying to another question, Abdullah said he had spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah earlier in the day regarding the weather-related situation in parts of Kashmir and Kathua.
“The Home Minister called to ask about the situation, and I briefed him fully. If we need any assistance from the Centre, they are ready to provide it,” he said.
On teacher recruitment, Abdullah said his government was working to fill vacancies at the grassroots level, acknowledging that recruitment had slowed because of lengthy verification procedures.
“During every Assembly session, MLAs raise concerns about the shortage of doctors, teachers and lecturers,” he said. “The process takes longer now because CID verification takes more time than before… but the appointment orders have now been issued and these teachers will join schools as soon as possible.”
Rejecting reports that more than 1,500 schools continue to function with a single teacher, Abdullah said the figures were outdated.
“That is an old report. It is not the current situation,” he said.
Commenting on tensions in West Asia, Abdullah reiterated his call for peace.
“We want peace to prevail… Our hope is that the ceasefire becomes permanent, the war ends and peace is restored,” he said, adding that disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz had pushed up oil prices and affected road construction works in Jammu and Kashmir.
Responding to concerns over the early melting of the Amarnath ice lingam, Abdullah said the number of pilgrims was already regulated under Supreme Court directions.
“There is already a cap imposed by the Supreme Court… As for the ice lingam, it is created by nature. Neither you nor I can decide how long it will remain,” he said.
On reports of staff shortages at SKIMS, Abdullah declined to comment, saying, “You should ask the Lieutenant Governor about SKIMS. Its files do not come to me.”
IWT not in our interest
On the Indus Waters Treaty, Abdullah said the agreement had never served the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Indus Waters Treaty was never in the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. From the very beginning, we opposed it because it deprived us of control over our own rivers,” he said.
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