Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said he would talk with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah about the early restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
“The PM Modi and HM Amit Shah were busy with Maharashtra and Jharkhand polls. But now that they have time, this issue will be taken up so that J&K’s statehood is restored soon,” Omar told reporters after attending a function to commemorate the 42nd foundation day of SKIMS Hospital here.
He emphasized that the assurances about restoration of statehood to J&K were made by the Prime Minister to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and not to the political leaders.
“We have to fight a big battle right now. And that battle is for Jammu and Kashmir to regain its status as a State. The Prime Minister promised statehood to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and not to us during the Parliament and Assembly elections,” Omar said.
He said people of Jammu and Kashmir participated in these elections voluntarily, without any coercion, and they did so with the hope that these promises especially the restoration of statehood would be fulfilled.
Asked if holiday on the NC founder’s birth anniversary will be restored, the CM said there are many things that need to be brought back in Jammu and Kashmir, but the priority is to restore its statehood first.
“There are many other dates as well, but we have to fight a bigger battle,” he added.