J&K CM to Launch Signature Campaign for Statehood; Oppn Reacts
In a bold move, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has announced that he will launch a door-to-door signature campaign to demand statehood for the union territory. The decision was made public during his Independence Day speech, where he emphasized the need to raise the voice of the people from every village in Jammu and Kashmir to Delhi.
The signature campaign, which is set to begin soon, aims to gather support from the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the statehood demand. This move is seen as a response to the Centre’s decision to revoke Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcate the state into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
However, the opposition has criticized the move, saying that signature campaigns have no legal or constitutional sanctity. The opposition leaders have instead called for Omar Abdullah to apologize for the state’s situation rather than resorting to signature campaigns.
The Centre’s decision to revoke Article 370 and bifurcate the state has been met with widespread protests and unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. The move has also led to a political impasse, with the opposition parties calling for the restoration of the state’s special status.
Omar Abdullah, in his Independence Day speech, emphasized the need for collective action to demand statehood. He said, “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.”
However, the opposition parties have dismissed the signature campaign as a publicity stunt. The National Conference (NC) leader and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah, said that the signature campaign was a “desperate attempt” to divert attention from the real issues facing the state.
The PDP leader and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, also criticized the move, saying that it was a “publicity gimmick” and that Omar Abdullah should focus on resolving the crisis in the state rather than resorting to signature campaigns.
The opposition parties have instead called for Omar Abdullah to apologize for the state’s situation. The NC leader, Farooq Abdullah, said that Omar Abdullah “owes an apology to the people of Jammu and Kashmir” for the state’s current situation.
The opposition parties have also questioned the legal and constitutional validity of the signature campaign. The BJP leader, Ram Madhav, said that signature campaigns have no legal or constitutional sanctity and that they are a “publicity stunt” to garner attention.
The Centre’s decision to revoke Article 370 and bifurcate the state has been met with widespread opposition and protests in Jammu and Kashmir. The move has also led to a political impasse, with the opposition parties calling for the restoration of the state’s special status.
The signature campaign is seen as a response to the Centre’s decision and a way to gather support from the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the statehood demand. However, the opposition parties have dismissed the move, saying that it is a publicity stunt and that Omar Abdullah should focus on resolving the crisis in the state rather than resorting to signature campaigns.
In conclusion, the launch of a signature campaign by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to demand statehood for the union territory has been met with opposition from the state’s opposition parties. The opposition parties have criticized the move, saying that signature campaigns have no legal or constitutional sanctity and that Omar Abdullah should focus on resolving the crisis in the state rather than resorting to publicity stunts.
