J-K CM questions ‘right time’ for statehood restoration, targets BJP

Jammu, Jul 12  : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of making “hollow promises” on restoring statehood, questioning what the “right time” meant and challenging the party to produce a single candidate from the 2024 polls who did not make the promise while seeking votes.
Addressing a National Conference rally in Jammu ahead of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest on the statehood issue, CM Omar as per news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) alleged that the BJP was a “backdoor party” that breaks ruling parties in states where it fails to secure a majority, citing Maharashtra, West Bengal and Punjab as examples.
“PM Modi has always promised that Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood will be given at the appropriate time.
What will be the right time? First, you did delimitation. They want to get more seats through that,” CM Omar said.
He asserted that restoration of statehood was not a favour to the people of Jammu and Kashmir but a commitment made to all political parties that contested the 2024 assembly elections.
“Show me even a single BJP MLA who, while addressing the public during the 2024 elections, said they would not let Jammu and Kashmir become a state again. Their leaders remember our promises very well, but they fail to remember their own,” he said.
The Chief Minister also accused the BJP of attempting to poach one of his party’s MLAs with an offer of Rs 20-30 crore and a ministerial berth, though he did not name the legislator. (KNS)