New Delhi, Jul 20 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said restoration of statehood to the Union Territory must come before any further pursuit of the Assembly’s resolution on special status, asserting that the Centre had failed to fulfil its assurances made in Parliament and before the Supreme Court.
Speaking to reporters during the National Conference’s protest in New Delhi, Abdullah said the party had repeatedly reminded the Centre over the past two years to honour its commitment to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
“The Central government has forced us to protest in Delhi. For more than two years, we have only been reminding it to fulfil the promises made in Parliament and before the Supreme Court,” he said.
Abdullah said the National Conference remained committed to its political agenda, including the resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly concerning the region’s special status and constitutional rights.
“We have not abandoned that agenda. However, our immediate demand is the restoration of statehood. After that, we will take forward the Assembly resolution on special status,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the protest was aimed at reminding the Centre of its commitment to restore statehood, adding that other political issues would be pursued thereafter.(NVI)
