Srinagar, Jan 2: Asserting that the Centre should be given “first chance” to fulfil its promise of restoring the statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said approaching courts on the issue would mean a “fight” and that it should be the “last option”.
During his first media meet here since assuming office in October, Abdullah also dismissed suggestions that his National Conference was under pressure to join the BJP-led NDA and expressed optimism that the promises made by the Centre to restore statehood of Jammu and Kashmir will be fulfilled at the earliest.
When asked why the J-K government did not approach court for restoration of statehood and went to the Centre with the resolution on it, he said going to the courts would mean getting into a confrontation. “Simply going to courts will be a fight. A fight should never be the first option, it should be the last option.
“If the SC had not spoken about the restoration of statehood, if the prime minister and home minister had not spoken about it, then we could have gone to courts. They have made promises and we have to give them a chance first,” he added.
Abdullah said the Supreme Court in its judgement in December last year had also stated that the statehood should be restored as soon as possible. “One year has passed since and we think one year should be enough,” he said.
He also maintained that the region’s current status as a Union Territory should be viewed as a temporary arrangement and restoration of statehood was the “biggest challenge” for his government. The chief minister dismissed rumours suggesting pressure from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to alter the National Conference’s ideology and join the alliance.
“There is no pressure from the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), Home Minister (Amit Shah) or the Raj Bhawan on us to change our ideology,” he said.
The chief minister added that he has received assurances from the prime minister and home minister that the National Conference government would remain stable and that they would receive the same cooperation extended earlier to the lieutenant governor. “They have stated they will respect the mandate of the people. Those spreading rumours that I will now join NDA and that I have changed my ideology, I cannot help that. I am here to work and I will work,” he said at the media interaction held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre.
The CM took questions on various issues confronting his two-month-old government, including the functioning of an elected government that has to share powers with the Centre’s appointee — the lieutenant governor. (PTI)
