Will resign rather than ally with BJP for statehood restoration: JK CM Omar Abdullah

Omar Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said he would rather resign than enter into an alliance with the BJP to hasten statehood for the Union Territory.

Speaking at an event in Achabal area of Anantnag district, Abdullah said he was not ready to make any political compromise for statehood.

"If you (people) are ready, then tell me, because I am not ready to make that trade. If it is needed to include the BJP in the government, then accept my resignation. Make any MLA here the chief minister and form the government with the BJP, I am not ready for that," he said.

Abdullah said had he included the BJP in the government, the statehood might have been restored sooner.

"Should we have included the BJP in the government? There was a possibility that by including the BJP in the government, we could have got a gift. They would have granted the statehood to us sooner," he said.

Referring to the PDP-BJP alliance in 2015, the CM said then also the government could have been formed in J-K without the inclusion of the BJP.

"The Congress and National Conference (NC) were ready. The BJP could have been left out of the government. But the excuse of giving representation to the BJP was made," Abdullah, who is also the vice president of the NC, said.

He said his government gave representation to Jammu without including the BJP in it.

"We gave representation to Pir Panjal, to the lower areas of Jammu. Today, the deputy CM is from Jammu, without the BJP's inclusion," he added.

Abdullah said he would continue to struggle for the restoration of the statehood, but would do that peacefully and democratically.

"How much blood of youth you want to see being spilled? I am not ready for that. We will fight but democratically and peacefully. We will achieve our rights within the scope of the constitution and law, but I am not ready to bring destruction to the homes of the people here," he said.

However, he said "my colleagues will also have to be courageous".

"They will have to face the powers that only want destruction in Jammu and Kashmir," the CM added.

Abdullah said he still believes that there is no despair in God's court.

"We will get it, and we will get our rights. But for now, the work will continue," he said amidst loud applause.

Pointing to the situation in Ladakh, he said the people there celebrated the August 5, 2019, decision, but were now protesting and demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status.

"People in Ladakh are now saying what happened with them was wrong. The people of Kargil never accepted that decision, but see how the situation changed in Leh. Those people who celebrated August 5, 2019 decision are today protesting against those," he added.

Highlighting the challenges of governance, Abdullah said that sitting outside, many people think it is easy to run a government in such difficult circumstances -- apparently referring to the dual power structure in the UT.

"I tell some of them, for example, come and sit on my chair for 10 days. If on the 11th day, you do not pull your legs, I will concede the point," he said.