Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India] : In an emotional and resolute address during a special session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah declared on Monday that he would not exploit the grief following the Pahalgam terror attack to demand statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking with visible emotion, Abdullah questioned whether his politics could be “so cheap” as to leverage the deaths of 26 innocent victims for political gain.
“I will not use this moment to demand statehood. After Pahalgam, with what face can I ask for statehood for Jammu and Kashmir? Meri kya itni sasti siyasat hai? We have talked about statehood in the past and will do so in the future too, but it would be shameful on my part to go to the central government now and say: 26 people have died; now give me statehood,” Abdullah said.
The Chief Minister also expressed deep remorse towards the families of those who lost their lives in the attack, acknowledging the failure in ensuring the safety of tourists visiting the region.
“I did not know how to apologise to the families of the deceased… What should I say to those children who lost their father or to a wife who lost her husband just days after marriage? They asked what their fault was. They just came for a holiday,” he lamented.
Abdullah firmly rejected the terrorists’ claims of acting in the interest of Kashmiris.
“Whoever did this says they did it for us, but I ask: Did we approve it? Did we tell them to do this? We do not support this violence,” he asserted.
Despite the dark times, Abdullah highlighted a rare moment of hope: widespread public condemnation of the attack from the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“For the first time in 26 years, I have seen the people of Jammu and Kashmir openly denounce such an act of terror. Violence and terrorism can only end when we are united,” he said, urging against any divisive steps that might alienate the populace.
The Legislative Assembly subsequently passed a resolution condemning the Pahalgam terror attack. The resolution, moved by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, recognised the attack as an assault on the values of “Kashmiriyat,” the Constitution, and the spirit of unity, peace, and harmony. It expressed solidarity with the victims’ families and supported the Union Government’s diplomatic measures taken after the Cabinet Committee on Security meeting.
The Pahalgam attack, one of the deadliest incidents since the 2019 Pulwama tragedy, has prompted India to adopt strong actions against Pakistan for its continued support of cross-border terrorism.