Omar Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) vice-president who is likely to be the Chief Minister of the union territory, in an exclusive interview to CNN-News18, said statehood was the top priority of the people in the region and it should be fulfilled.
“Jammu and Kashmir was always a state. A union territory is a temporary phase. The PM has always said that J&K’s statehood will be restored. He is an honourable man. Hope he keeps his word. People should be rewarded for showing their faith in democracy. Statehood is their first priority and it should be fulfilled.”
While the NC won 42 seats in the results announced on Tuesday, its ally Congress won six. The former chief minister won both Ganderbal and Budgam seats. “Our expectations were tampered by the recent Lok Sabha elections results…We are the single largest party now, which we had anticipated before going to the assembly polls,” said Abdullah.
On his party’s stance on the abrogation of Article 370, which took away the special status of J&K, Abdullah said, “I would like to believe that Article 370 will be reinstated…It is our political ideology. We are ready for the struggle.”
In an exclusive interview with @Zakka_Jacob on #CNNnews18, @OmarAbdullah says J&K has rejected BJP's politics and reiterates his party’s commitment to reinstating Article 370"It’s our political ideology, and we're ready for the struggle." #JammuAndKashmir #Article370 pic.twitter.com/Yrct9d9M2I
— News18 (@CNNnews18) October 9, 2024
ON EQUATION WITH CENTRE, BJP
“Any government should have healthy relations with the Centre, but I am making it very clear that good relations with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will not happen. I am drawing a line between the Central government and BJP,” he said.
“People will not benefit from the tension between the Central government and state. Hope the Raj Bhavan reciprocates in a positive way.”
Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir: JKNC Vice President Omar Abdullah says, "We must exercise great caution with this mandate. The people of Jammu should not feel that they have no voice in this government. I believe that if we regain state status, the government should strive to… pic.twitter.com/zRDsRDpzRy— IANS (@ians_india) October 8, 2024
ON CONGRESS
Commenting on his alliance with the Congress, Abdullah said, “I am not going to start the coalition government on a bitter note. Everyone got the Haryana results wrong. It is unfair to blame the Congress for the results. It happens in politics. Our alliance is intact.”
He added, “For the first time, we will have a government under the union territory. No government is easy to run…Even when I was the CM earlier in a coalition government, it was not an easy task.”
“People have rejected the politics of the BJP. Changes made by the BJP in the valley have been rejected by the people of Jammu and Kashmir. It is a government of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We will also work for those who voted for the BJP. We will not differentiate between people,” said Abdullah.
“The commitment made by the coalition government is our top priority and promises made to the people will be fulfilled,” he said.
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