Srinagar, Aug 15 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday called for restoration of statehood to the Union Territory and said whatever had been taken away from the people should be returned, asserting that Jammu and Kashmir should become the starting point for strengthening federalism in the country.
Addressing the 80th Independence Day celebrations, Abdullah paid tribute to freedom fighters and martyrs and said the occasion was one of “joy, remembrance and reflection”.
He said the country must reflect on its journey since Independence and examine whether the vision of its founding leaders had been fully realised.
The chief minister paid tribute to National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, whom he described as one of the most courageous leaders of Jammu and Kashmir, and recalled the resistance mounted by local people against tribal raiders in 1947.
He said people in villages, towns and streets resisted the invasion even before the Indian Army arrived, with many sacrificing their lives.
Abdullah also remembered National Conference leader Master Abdul Aziz, who was killed in Muzaffarabad while resisting the tribal invasion.
Referring to people living across the Line of Control, the chief minister said they were “our own” and expressed hope that they would one day be able to occupy the seats reserved for representatives from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir in the J-K Legislative Assembly.
Calling democracy and federalism the country’s biggest strengths, Abdullah said both needed to be protected and strengthened.
“Whatever was taken away from us should be returned to us,” he said, stressing that federalism should not remain confined to words but should be reflected in practice.
He said Jammu and Kashmir should become the starting point for strengthening the federal structure and clarified that strengthening federalism was not only about restoring statehood to J-K but about empowering all states.
The chief minister also expressed concern over what he described as the erosion of states’ powers and interference by central agencies in areas falling within the states’ domain.
Referring to education and healthcare, he said these had traditionally been state subjects and questioned the growing role of national-level examinations in admissions to state institutions.
While supporting national examinations for institutions such as IITs, IIMs and NIFT, Abdullah said state institutions should have the right to conduct their own examinations and admissions.
He also stressed the need for transparency in recruitment and admissions, referring to controversies surrounding recruitment in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Losing trust takes minutes, while regaining it takes years,” he said, calling for transparent, merit-based systems so that deserving candidates felt assured of a fair opportunity.
Abdullah said the government, opposition and media had important roles to play in a democracy. While the government had the responsibility to govern, the opposition must hold it accountable and the media must scrutinise both.
Defending his government’s record over the past two-and-a-half years, Abdullah said the government belonged to the people and was working for their welfare, development and future.
He said efforts would continue to create opportunities for the youth, including those living in villages, and assured people that his government would work towards fulfilling their aspirations and restoring constitutional guarantees.
The chief minister concluded by extending Independence Day greetings and expressed hope that the next 80 years would be more prosperous, peaceful, developed and harmonious than the previous eight decades.(NVI)
