Will have to work hard for statehood: CM

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said the people in J&K will get “real relief” only when the statehood is restored. “We have to work hard to achieve it,” he said.

Omar on Friday chaired a working committee meeting with the National Conference’s provincial functionaries at the party headquarters in Srinagar.

He said the civilian government was diligently working towards fulfilling the promises outlined in the manifesto, with a steadfast commitment to preserving the distinct identity of the region. A party statement said the meeting revolved around critical party issues and urgent public concerns. CM Omar reassured all party members that the “government is actively working towards fulfilling the commitments outlined in the party manifesto”.

He emphasised the government’s dedication to tackling the “developmental challenges of the past decade, with a strong focus on preserving the unique identity of the region”.

Omar made it “unequivocally clear that there can be no trade-off between the progress and dignity of our people and that both must advance hand in hand’, the statement said.

He reiterated his pledge to “work tirelessly for the welfare of people of Jammu and Kashmir”, vowing to “remain steadfast in addressing public grievances and advancing the restoration of statehood and the region’s overall development.”

The meeting chaired by Omar comes as the NC government is making efforts to get statehood restored to Jammu and Kashmir.

Omar Abdullah on Thursday said he will again take up the matter of restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.