J&K CM to Launch Signature Campaign for Statehood; Oppn Reacts
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah recently announced his plan to launch a door-to-door signature campaign in support of the state’s statehood. The move is seen as a desperate attempt to raise the pitch for the state’s special status, which has been a contentious issue for years. However, the opposition parties have reacted strongly to the move, terming it as nothing more than a publicity stunt.
In his Independence Day speech, Omar Abdullah said that the campaign will be launched to raise the voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to Delhi. He emphasized that till now, he and his government have been raising their voice for the state’s rights through letters and meetings. However, now they intend to take it to every village in the state to Delhi. The Chief Minister believes that this campaign will help to create awareness among the people and put pressure on the Central government to grant statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
However, the opposition parties have slammed the move, saying that signature campaigns have no legal or constitutional sanctity. They argue that the only way to achieve statehood is through a constitutional amendment, which requires a consensus among all parties and stakeholders. They also accuse the Chief Minister of resorting to cheap publicity stunts to divert attention from the real issues plaguing the state.
The National Conference (NC) leader, Ali Muhammad Sagar, said that the Chief Minister owes an apology to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for his “divisive politics.” He claimed that the signature campaign is a futile exercise and will only create divisions among the people. The NC leader also accused the Chief Minister of not doing enough to address the real issues facing the state, such as unemployment, corruption, and terrorism.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), another major political party in the state, also reacted strongly to the move. The PDP leader, Mehbooba Mufti, said that the Chief Minister’s decision to launch a signature campaign is an attempt to bypass the democratic process. She claimed that the PDP has always been committed to the cause of statehood and has been working towards it through a democratic and peaceful means. However, the PDP leader also accused the Chief Minister of not doing enough to address the concerns of the people, including the issue of Article 370, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a major opposition party, also reacted to the move. The BJP leader, Balbir Puri, said that the Chief Minister’s decision to launch a signature campaign is an attempt to appease the people of Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the upcoming elections. He claimed that the BJP has always been committed to the cause of statehood and has been working towards it through a democratic and peaceful means. However, the BJP leader also accused the Chief Minister of not doing enough to address the concerns of the people, including the issue of terrorism and corruption.
The opposition parties’ reaction to the Chief Minister’s move is not surprising. They have always been skeptical of the government’s intentions and have accused it of resorting to cheap publicity stunts to divert attention from the real issues plaguing the state. However, the Chief Minister’s decision to launch a signature campaign is seen as a desperate attempt to raise the pitch for the state’s special status, which has been a contentious issue for years.
It remains to be seen how successful the signature campaign will be. However, it is clear that the opposition parties will not back down without a fight. The real test will come when the campaign reaches its climax and the Chief Minister presents his petition to the Central government. Will the Central government listen to the people of Jammu and Kashmir or will it ignore their demands? Only time will tell.
