Srinagar/Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday asserted that his government and the National Conference (NC) would continue their efforts for the restoration of statehood until it is achieved.
Responding to a question on whether more steps would be taken following demonstrations across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday seeking restoration of statehood, Abdullah said, “Yes. We will continue our efforts until statehood is restored.”
The chief minister made the remarks while interacting with reporters after reviewing relief and rehabilitation measures in the flood-hit Rajouri district.
His father and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah also said that the measures taken on August 5, 2019, regarding Jammu and Kashmir’s special status were unconstitutional, and protests for its restoration will continue.
“Everyone knows that what happened on August 5, 2019, is unconstitutional. So, the entire country supports the protests right now. Yesterday you saw the protest at Parliament. This will continue,” Abdullah told reporters here.
The BJP-led central government abrogated Article 370 on August 5, 2019, revoking the special constitutional status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating it into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
When asked about his policy on restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, the former chief minister said his party has a policy on the issue. “I don’t have any policy; the National Conference has a policy,” he said.
Regarding Union Minister Giriraj Singh’s remarks against PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, the NC president said she can respond to the question.
On Wednesday, protests and celebrations marked the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. The NC and opposition PDP held protests in all districts, demanding the restoration of the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
