Omar Abdullah (Photo: PTI)
National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah said the party will keep the Article 370 issue aside for now and work towards developing a good working relationship with the Narendra Modi government.
“None of us are foolish enough nor did we try to convince our voters that we were going to work on our Article 370 agenda with the current government in Delhi. We know that we will not get this back from the government that has to take it away from us,” said Abdullah, who is set to become the chief minister of J&K NDTV.
He further said that the Prime Minister should fulfill his promise to restore statehood in Jammu and Kashmir. “Our immediate priority is to work with the government in Delhi to regain statehood in Jammu and Kashmir. In that regard, I believe that the Prime Minister is an honorable man. He has promised the people of J&K that the state will be restored. He promised this in every speech he made during his campaign here.”
The new Chief Minister of J&K further said, “Once the government is formed, I would like to believe that the Prime Minister will go to Delhi, talk to the Prime Minister and build a good working relationship. An adversarial relationship is not in the interest of the people of J&K, and even the union government….”
Will introduce a resolution on the restoration of the state, says Omar
Abdullah said on Wednesday that the NC-Congress coalition government will table a resolution to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir in its first cabinet meeting.
“I hope that after the formation of the government, the Cabinet will pass a resolution in the first Cabinet meeting calling on the Center to restore the state. The government should then submit that resolution to the Prime Minister,” Abdullah said.
First publication: Oct 9, 2024 | 3:52 PM IST