Signature campaign on J&K statehood mere theatrics: Opposition

The Opposition has criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for announcing a signature campaign seeking restoration of statehood for Jammu & Kashmir.

“Omar Abdullah owes an apology not a signature campaign for normalising August 5. With 50 MLAs behind him, he has reduced the fight for J&K’s statehood to token gestures, after seeking votes on the promise of restoring pre–August 5 status. This is not just retreat, it is betrayal,” Waheed Para of the People’s Democratic Party posted on X.

He said “People gave him a historic mandate to fight for Article 370 and statehood not for theatrics.”

“If he has already surrendered, he must admit it and apologise to every citizen of J&K for selling promises he never intended to keep,” said Para. Jammu and Kashmir’s People Conference Chief and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone termed the door-to-door signature campaign “nothing but theatrics”.

“We will support any movement towards statehood. But please don’t make a mockery of statehood… Majoritarianism is something which politicians practice. The Supreme Court practices law. Please don’t start a process in which we may end up being seen as trying to scare the Supreme Court by majoritarian muscularity,” he said.

The Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) of jailed MP Engineer Rashid called the move “a shameful confession of political irrelevance and utter failure”.

“Omar Abdullah had a golden opportunity to fight for the rights of the people when the NC got a full mandate to represent the aspirations of Kashmiris, especially on Article 370 and statehood. Instead of pursuing these goals with conviction, the NC has chosen the path of surrender and soft obedience towards the BJP,” said AIP chief spokesperson Inam Un Nabi.