J&K CM to Launch Signature Campaign for Statehood; Oppn Reacts
In a bid to raise his voice for Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced that he will launch a door-to-door signature campaign across the state. The move, announced during his Independence Day speech, is aimed at gathering support for the state’s statehood from every nook and corner of the state. However, opposition leaders have criticized the move, terming it as a publicity stunt with no legal or constitutional significance.
The Chief Minister’s decision to launch a signature campaign is seen as an attempt to put pressure on the central government to grant statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The state has been a matter of controversy and debate for several years, with the central government seeking to introduce changes to the state’s status through the proposed Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill.
In his Independence Day speech, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah emphasized the need for the state’s statehood, stating that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been waiting for too long to exercise their democratic rights. He also accused the central government of trying to undermine the state’s autonomy and dignity.
“Till now, through letters…and meetings, we’ve raised our voice. Now we’re going to raise our voice from every village of J&K to Delhi,” he said, indicating the scope and scale of the signature campaign.
However, opposition leaders have refused to buy into the Chief Minister’s move, terming it as a desperate attempt to remain relevant in the political arena. BJP leader and former Chief Minister, Ghulam Abdullah Azad, said that the signature campaign has no legal or constitutional sanctity and is merely a publicity stunt.
“Signature campaigns have no legal or constitutional sanctity. What Omar Abdullah needs to do is to apologize for his failures as a Chief Minister and not resort to such theatrics,” Azad said, adding that the real issue is the state’s governance and development, which has been neglected by the ruling coalition.
Another opposition leader, National Conference leader, Devender Rana, also criticized the move, saying that it is a futile exercise that will not yield any tangible results. “The Chief Minister is trying to divert attention from the real issues that plague the state, such as corruption, unemployment, and poor governance. Instead of launching a signature campaign, he should focus on addressing these issues,” Rana said.
The Chief Minister’s decision to launch a signature campaign has also drawn criticism from some civil society groups, who have accused him of using the state’s people as pawns in his political game. “The Chief Minister is using the state’s people to further his political agenda. This is an insult to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who are looking for concrete solutions to their problems, not empty rhetoric,” said a spokesperson for the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Society.
Despite the criticism, the Chief Minister remains undeterred and has reiterated his commitment to launching the signature campaign. “We are not going to back down. We will continue to raise our voice for the state’s statehood, and we will ensure that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are heard loud and clear in Delhi,” he said.
The Chief Minister’s signature campaign is set to begin soon, and it remains to be seen how it will impact the state’s politics and the central government’s stance on the state’s statehood. One thing is certain, however, that the campaign has sparked a heated debate and has raised questions about the Chief Minister’s intentions and the state’s future.
