Jammu, Jul 12: Deflecting the BJP’s criticism that the National Conference’s proposed JantarMantar protest would not fetch statehood, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah asked if they (BJP) were suggesting that the protest (for statehood) should be held outside (US President) Trump’s residence in America and not the country’s union capital.
Pointed query was raised by the CM Omar, while addressing his “Delhi Chalo” rally in Jammu, ahead of the NC’s proposed July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar.
“After patiently waiting for 18 months for restoration of statehood by the Centre, now we have decided to adopt a novel approach. It will start taking effect from July 20 when we’ll raise slogans for statehood in (New) Delhi. But we are drawing their (BJP’s) criticism for it,” he stated. “Earlier when we raised the issue in the J&K Legislature they (BJP) used to taunt us saying – we won’t be able to get statehood from the state assembly. Then we hit the roads with this demand – they claimed that we won’t get it by raking up the issue in J&K. So, we decided to move to JantarMantar for a protest. Now their (BJP’s) assertion is – We will not get statehood by protesting at JantarMantar. Now BJP people should tell us – Should I go to Trump at the White House in America to get statehood,” the Chief Minister jovially asked, amid wild cheers by the crowd.
He asserted that the BJP should clarify its stance. “Are they saying that we should not seek statehood from our own country’s leadership? If that is so, we will go there and demand statehood from Trump. We are not aware of this connection. If it exists, tell us. Because we never thought to go anywhere else but our own country’s capital. I fail to understand if the country’s problems will not be addressed by its leadership, who else will do so? Until they don’t tell us an alternative, we will continue to raise demands with our country’s leadership in our union capital. For us, that is the only place to seek redress to our grievances,” CM Omar maintained,
