Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday (Feb 10) called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah and is believed to have discussed with him various issues, including restoration of statehood and law and order situation in the Union Territory. During 30 minutes long meeting, CM is also believed to have raised the recent incidents – the death of a person by suicide in Kathua in Jammu, and shooting of a truck driver by Army troops after he allegedly did not stop at a checkpoint in Sopore in north Kashmir. The meeting comes days after the Home Minister reviewed the security situation of the Union Territory. The review meeting was attended by the Lt Governor of J&K, top civil, military, police and intelligence officials. The CM is believed to have conveyed to the HM the need for taking people of the UT into confidence and that as the representative of the people, his government too should have a say in maintaining the law and order.
Omar led government besides other political forces in Jammu and Kashmir have been repeatedly demanding the restoration of statehood so that peoples’ elected representatives are able to deliver. Though the PM and HM are on record to have promised the restoration of statehood, they haven’t given any time line. Even during his recent visit to Sonamarg, PM Modi while hinting towards restoration of statehood reiterated that “Modi makes a promise and fulfils it but on appropriate time”. And when that appropriate time is going to come, people of J&K have no clue about.
Though Jammuites have been almost silent about statehood, the day CM was discussing the issue with HM in New Delhi, a prominent Rajput outfit staged a march in Jammu in support of the demand for early restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir with its leader threatening to intensify the agitation if the BJP-led Central government failed to keep its promise on the issue. The activists of Yuva Rajput Sabha led by their president Vikram Singh took out the rally from the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh, the last Dogra ruler, at Tawi bridge near Jewel chowk in the heart of the city amid heavy deployment of police personnel. The protestors described the rally as part of struggle for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, saying, statehood is the birth right of the people of J&K and directly linked to the future coming generations.
Fact of the matter is that majority of the populace here in J&K are for restoration of statehood. Despite having participated in assembly elections in large numbers and electing their representatives, people here still feel disempowered due to dual administrations. Need is that the PM and HM take up the issue seriously and respecting peoples’ aspiration and their own promises and commitments, made umpteenth times, take steps for restoration of the statehood.