Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday warned the Centre not to mistake his patience for weakness when it comes to the restoration of statehood. He demanded that the Union Government clearly define what it means by 'appropriate time' for restoring statehood.
Addressing a grand workers' convention at the mausoleum of his grandparents in Hazratbal on the 26th death anniversary of his grandmother Akbar Jehan, Abdullah asserted that if the Centre is ready to talk to the people of Ladakh, then it should also talk to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Patience is not weakness, says Omar
Paying tribute to his grandmother, Abdullah said he has learned a lot from her, but the biggest lesson was to have patience. 'We have to keep patience—as was shown by her. But patience is not the path of weakness. Patience is not the path of silence. It doesn't mean that we don't have to raise our voice for our rights. It doesn't mean that you will take undue advantage of our patience. It doesn't mean that you will think us weak. This patience is our strength, it is our voice, and God willing, this patience will be our success,' the Chief Minister said at the convention, overlooking Dal Lake.
Centre's control through LG criticised
Abdullah accused the BJP-led Central Government of controlling governance of Jammu and Kashmir through the Lieutenant Governor (LG). He said, 'If you had to harass people through the Raj Bhavan, dismiss employees and run bulldozers, then why did you bring us forward?' He added that the Centre should have told them at the time that 'you come forward, but we will tie your hands behind your back. That we will give you those officers who will not implement (your) decisions. It is our patience that we are still working like donkeys to achieve something for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.'
The Chief Minister also questioned why, after being in power for over one-and-a-half years, the ruling party in Jammu and Kashmir was mulling a protest at Jantar Mantar. 'There must be some compulsion; something must have changed. I kept my political future and reputation at stake and told the Centre that we want to secure our rights through dialogue and not violence, knowing that this decision can be very risky for me politically,' he said.
Statehood promise unfulfilled
Abdullah said his party's success in Assembly elections has become a 'punishment' for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. 'Why did you (let us) form the government if you will not allow it to function? What is the benefit? Then you should not have conducted the elections,' he said.
He also asked the Centre to define the implication of 'appropriate time'. 'I ask them, for God's sake, how will we know that the appropriate time has come. What do my colleagues and I have to do to reach that appropriate time?' he said. He further asked if the appropriate time implies the BJP coming to power in the erstwhile state. 'Have the courage to say it publicly. At least, we will not remain in this deception that you will fulfil the promise,' he added.
Comparison with Ladakh
Referring to the Centre's talks with the representatives of Ladakh, the Chief Minister said it is a subtle message that nothing can be achieved without protesting. 'Today, knowingly or unknowingly, or in a well-thought-out way, we are sent a message that nothing can be achieved without protests. We compare our situation with Ladakh, and are forced to raise the question of what you (the Centre) are ready to talk with Ladakh, why not us?' he asked.
Abdullah pointed out that Article 370 was abrogated as the Centre wanted to have the same constitution across the country, but the government is now ready to give special concessions to Ladakh. 'You tell us that there should be only one way in the country, everyone should be equal, and that is why we revoked Article 370. But, if you tell Ladakh that you talk to us, we will give you 371. We seek statehood, but the same BJP people who are ready to give 371 to Ladakh, tell us we will not get the statehood,' he remarked.
The chief minister said that Ladakh is being offered every concession, but the J-K government cannot even choose its officers. 'We ask them to at least let us choose officers to work with, but they do not allow us. You tell Ladakh they can decide upon the chief secretary, write his ACR, and make budgetary decisions as well, and say we do not have any objections. Why is this? It is because the people of Ladakh started an agitation,' he added.
Appeal for unity at Jantar Mantar protest
Pointing to the party's proposed protest at Jantar Mantar over the restoration of statehood on July 20, Abdullah appealed to political parties to support the NC protest in Delhi. Brushing aside criticism from some quarters that the party did not discuss the issue with others, he said the issue of statehood did not belong just to his family, but to all the people of J-K.
'Do only me and Farooq (Abdullah) sahib have to live in the state, and the rest will remain in the UT? We made the programme to go to Jantar Mantar. The issue of statehood is not only ours but also of the whole J-K. We invited all parties that have MLAs in the current assembly, or have had in the past. Tell me what was needed to invite Ghulam Nabi Azad, Altaf Bukhari, Hakeem Yaseen or the Panthers party? Statehood belongs to all, not just us,' he said, appealing to the parties to leave the electoral battle for some time.
'Kargil, Ladakh, Buddhists, Muslims, Congress, NC, BJP, all came together to achieve something,' he said, adding it will be a huge injustice to the people of J-K if some leaders want to stay away from the NC protest due to some fear or pressure.
He also asked party workers to hold protest programmes at district headquarters on July 20. However, he stressed that they should only raise slogans over the restoration of statehood. 'This is a start. How much forward we have to take it and what shape is to be given to this protest programme, will be known when we know whether the Centre is ready to talk to us or not,' he said.
