Srinagar, April 15: Former Chief Minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said he remains hopeful about the early restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, stating that the “appropriate time” has arrived for the move.
Speaking to the media after inaugurating a bridge in Pulwama district, Abdullah said, “It has now been six months since the assembly elections. Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently visited the region, and I had a separate and constructive meeting with him. Based on that, I am still optimistic that Jammu and Kashmir will regain its statehood soon.”
When questioned about the opposition’s criticism regarding the Waqf Amendment Act not being discussed, Abdullah clarified that the issue stemmed from a procedural misstep.
“The Speaker had already clarified the matter on the last day of the session. The opposition brought in an adjournment motion, which typically applies only to issues directly related to the J&K government’s functioning. Since the Waqf Bill was legislated by the central government in Parliament, how could the local government respond to it through an adjournment motion?” he explained.
Abdullah noted that had the opposition chosen to submit a resolution under different assembly rules, it might have been taken up for discussion. He added that the matter is now being dealt with at the judicial level.
“Several political parties, including the National Conference, have approached the Supreme Court and presented their concerns. We will now wait for the apex court’s judgment,” he said.
Commenting on the infrastructure project he inaugurated, Abdullah expressed disappointment over the prolonged delay in rebuilding the bridge linking Chrar-e-Sharief with parts of south Kashmir.
“It’s unfortunate that it took 11 years to reconstruct this bridge, which was destroyed in the 2014 floods. I feel it was perhaps destined for us to finally open it. This bridge is crucial as it enhances connectivity between Chrar-e-Sharief and the southern districts of Kashmir,” he remarked.
