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 be launching a door-to-door signature campaign to demand statehood for the region. The announcement was made during his Independence Day speech, where he emphasized the need to raise the voice of the people of J&K to Delhi. However, the opposition has reacted strongly to this move, terming it as a “theatrics” and questioning its legal and constitutional sanctity.
Omar Abdullah’s decision to launch a signature campaign is seen as a significant step in his efforts to reiterate the demand for statehood. The region has been under President’s Rule since January 2018, and the ruling National Conference (NC) has been demanding restoration of statehood. The Chief Minister believes that a signature campaign will help amplify the voice of the people and put pressure on the Centre to reconsider its stance.
In his Independence Day speech, Omar Abdullah 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.” He also criticized the Centre’s decision to implement the GST in the region, stating that it would lead to financial losses for the state.
While the decision has been welcomed by many in the region who are seeking statehood, the opposition has been quick to criticize the move. The BJP, which has been a strong critic of the NC’s demand for statehood, has termed the signature campaign as a “drama” and a “waste of time”. The party’s state unit president, Ravinder Raina, said, “The people of J&K are not fools. They know that a signature campaign has no legal or constitutional sanctity.”
The PDP, which has been a key ally of the NC in the past, has also criticized the move. The party’s president, Mehbooba Mufti, said, “The people of J&K want solutions, not drama. The Centre should engage with the people of J&K and address their concerns, rather than indulging in theatrics.”
The opposition’s criticism has been echoed by many experts who have questioned the effectiveness of a signature campaign in achieving the desired results. They point out that the Centre has the power to reject any petition or demand, and that a signature campaign may not be enough to persuade it to reconsider its stance.
However, Omar Abdullah remains undeterred. He believes that the signature campaign will help galvanize public opinion and put pressure on the Centre to take the demand for statehood seriously. He has also accused the opposition of being “afraid” to take up the issue of statehood and has called upon the people of J&K to support the campaign.
The decision to launch a signature campaign has also raised questions about the feasibility of the exercise. With over 12 million people in J&K, collecting signatures from every household would be a massive undertaking. Moreover, the opposition has questioned the authenticity of the signatures, pointing out that the campaign may be open to manipulation and fraud.
Despite these challenges, Omar Abdullah remains committed to the campaign. He believes that it will help to build a united front among the people of J&K and send a strong message to the Centre. As the campaign gets underway, it remains to be seen if it will be able to achieve its objectives and put pressure on the Centre to reconsider its stance on statehood.
