Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said on Saturday that people in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir ( PoK ) could have risen to demand their merger with J&K if the Centre had not abrogated the region’s special status and revoked its statehood in 2019.
“That part of Jammu and Kashmir is ours. We consider those people as our own. Abdullah said people in PoK could have been demanding to join Jammu and Kashmir if the Centre had not withdrawn the region’s special constitutional provisions in 2019. He said the developments in PoK had proved the decision taken by National Conference founder and his grandfather Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, along with his colleagues, to fight the Pakistani raiders in 1947 was justified.
Speaking at an Independence Day function in Srinagar after hoisting the national flag, Abdullah said the situation across the Line of Control (LoC) causes “pain, regret, and deep distress”. “When I see the situation across the border, I realise that our ancestors who said ‘ hamlavar khabardar, hum Kashmiri hain tayyar ‘ (Attackers beware, Kashmiris are prepared) were right,” he said. The CM said that people living in PoK are regarded “as our own”, adding that seats have been reserved for them in the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly. Seats are still kept for them in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly with the hope that one day those people will be able to use those empty seats,” he said.
He reiterated that his government remains committed to restoring statehood and other constitutional guarantees to Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier reporting noted: Speaking at the Independence Day function in Srinagar, Abdullah said the situation in PoK has vindicated the decision of the people of Kashmir who fought against invading tribal raiders from Pakistan in 1947 and chose to become part of India.
Earlier reporting noted: Omar Abdullah said he was pained by the situation in PoK, where dozens of people were killed and scores jailed for demanding their democratic rights. Earlier reporting noted: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the people of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) would have risen to rejoin Jammu and Kashmir if the Centre had not abrogated J&K’s special status and stripped the region of its statehood.
