Omar Abdullah underlines: J-K acceded, not merged

If seeking autonomy mandated by the Constitution is anti-national, then we are, says ex-CM

kashmir special status, kashmir tensions, kashmir autonomous, kashmir problems, omar abdullah, omar abdullah speech, national conference, india news

Omar, Farooq Abdullah at Sunday’s National Conference session. (Express Photo: Shuaib Masoodi)

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah on Sunday toughened his party’s stance on special status for the state and said that the Constitution guarantees autonomy to J&K, and if talking about that is anti-national, they are proud to wear this badge. Omar said J&K had acceded to India and not merged with it, and it is wrong to compare it with any other Indian state.

“When there was accession (of J&K with India), the Centre was responsible for three things: currency, defence and foreign affairs. This is mentioned in the Constitution, and when we say it should be restored, you say they are anti-national,” Omar said. “A senior minister said leave alone azaadi, if somebody talks of autonomy, he is an anti-national,” Omar said, addressing a delegate session of the NC in Srinagar, “We don’t have to get autonomy from Pakistan; we don’t have to get it from Russia or Britain. We have to get it from the Indian Constitution, the Constitution in which it is already mentioned.

Read | Chidambaram seeks greater autonomy for Jammu-Kashmir, Congress distances itself from statement

Story continues below this ad

“I am sorry, (Arun) Jaitley-sahib, but if talking of something within the Constitution, to get something from the Constitution, is anti-national, we will wear this badge of anti-national proudly. We have no objection to it”. Omar was referring to Union Finance Minister Jaitley’s remarks that Chidambaram’s position on autonomy for J&K is “contrary to India’s national interest”.

The delegate session re-elected Farooq Abdullah as the party president and passed a resolution seeking restoration of autonomy to the state. Omar said J&K is unlike any other Indian state. “Why are you, time and again, comparing Jammu and Kashmir with Gujarat, Haryana and Tamil Nadu,” he asked. “We have our own identity, we have preserved our identity. We have our own Constitution, we have our own flag. You can’t compare us with other states.”

Read | Arun Jaitley slams Chidambaram on ‘azadi’ remark, questions Congress’ understanding of ‘Kashmir issue’

Omar also admitted making mistakes in the past: “…Sometime, because of our own mistakes, we deviate from our path. This is human tendency. No one among us is an angel — we are humans, and humans do make mistakes…. I believe we have learnt to a large extent from our mistakes.” Farooq Abdullah echoed Omar’s words on autonomy: “We had joined you (India) with love but you didn’t understand our love. You snatched (that) very thing from us and then you are asking why you don’t raise slogans in our favour…. If you have to win their hearts, you have to give them autonomy”.

Bashaarat Masood

Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram