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 push for the state’s statehood. Speaking on Independence Day, Abdullah declared that the campaign will take the voices of the people of J&K to the doorstep of the government in Delhi. However, the opposition has reacted strongly to the move, terming it as “theatrics” and “a futile exercise.”
Abdullah’s announcement came as a surprise to many, as the state has been grappling with a prolonged political crisis since the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019. The move has been seen as an attempt to revive the state’s demand for statehood, which was withdrawn by the Centre in the wake of the constitutional amendment.
In his Independence Day speech, Abdullah emphasized the need to raise the state’s voice and take it to the people. “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. The Chief Minister also urged the people to participate in the campaign and make their voices heard.
However, the opposition has reacted sharply to the move, terming it as “a futile exercise” that will not yield any results. “Signature campaigns have no legal or constitutional sanctity,” said a senior opposition leader. “It’s a futile exercise and Omar Abdullah should focus on governance and development rather than engaging in theatrics.”
Another opposition leader criticized the move, saying that it was an attempt to divert attention from the real issues facing the state. “The people of J&K are suffering due to the ongoing political crisis, and instead of addressing these issues, the Chief Minister is engaging in a signature campaign,” he said.
The opposition’s criticism has been met with strong reactions from the ruling party, which has defended the move as a necessary step to take the state’s voice to the people. “The opposition is trying to discredit the Chief Minister’s move by saying it’s futile, but we believe that every effort to raise the state’s voice is necessary and justified,” said a senior government official.
The signature campaign, which is expected to begin soon, will involve the Chief Minister, his cabinet colleagues, and party workers visiting every village in the state to collect signatures in support of statehood. The campaign is seen as a key step in mobilizing public opinion and putting pressure on the Centre to reconsider its decision on statehood.
The opposition, however, is not convinced that the campaign will yield any results. “The Centre has already made up its mind on the issue, and no amount of signature campaigns or public protests can change its decision,” said an opposition leader. “Omar Abdullah should focus on governance and development rather than engaging in futile exercises like this.”
As the debate continues, the people of J&K are left to wonder whether the signature campaign will indeed make a difference in the state’s quest for statehood. Will the campaign be able to mobilize public opinion and put pressure on the Centre, or will it be dismissed as a futile exercise? Only time will tell.
