Will rather resign than align with BJP for statehood: Omar

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday stated that he would prefer to resign rather than form an alliance with the BJP to restore statehood to J&K.

Speaking at an event in Achabal, Anantnag, Omar made it clear that he was unwilling to make any political compromises on the issue of statehood.

“If you are ready, let me know. However, I am not prepared to make any trade-offs on this matter. If it requires including the BJP in the government, then accept my resignation. Appoint any MLA here as the CM and form a government with the BJP, but I will not agree to that,” he said.

Omar acknowledged that the BJP might have granted statehood to J&K if it had been included as an alliance partner in the government. “There was a possibility that we could have been gifted statehood if the BJP had been part of the government,” he said.

Referring to the PDP-BJP coalition in 2015, Omar said that the government could have been formed without including the BJP. “The Congress and National Conference were ready. The BJP could have been excluded from the government, but the excuse of giving representation to the BJP was made,” he added.

He highlighted that his government had provided representation to Jammu without including the BJP. “We gave representation to Pir Panjal and the lower areas of Jammu. Today, the Deputy CM is from Jammu, and this was achieved without the BJP’s inclusion,” he said.

Abdullah emphasised that he would continue to fight for the restoration of statehood peacefully and democratically. “How much youth blood do you want to see spilled? I am not ready for that. We will struggle, but democratically and peacefully. We will achieve our rights within the framework of the Constitution and the law, but I will not bring destruction to people’s homes,” he asserted.

Pointing to the situation in Ladakh, he noted that while the people initially celebrated the August 5, 2019, decision, they are now protesting and demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status. “The people of Kargil never accepted that decision, but look how the situation changed in Leh. Those who once celebrated the 2019 decision are now protesting against it,” he said.