Srinagar, Aug. 5: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the “wounds” caused by the abrogation of Article 370 had not healed even after seven years, while asserting that his government remained committed to correcting the “injustices” suffered by the people of the Union Territory.
Speaking to reporters during his visit to cloudburst-affected areas in Poonch, Abdullah also outlined the government’s relief and rehabilitation plans for affected families, saying assistance, reconstruction and restoration of damaged infrastructure would now be the administration’s priority.
Referring to August 5, 2019, when Article 370 was revoked, Abdullah said, “The wounds of the abrogation are still there. Our wounds have not healed. Instead, we had hoped that at least some balm would be applied to those wounds and that the promise of restoring statehood would be fulfilled.”
“Today, as you yourself said, it is the seventh year. Everything happened on August 5, 2019. Today is August 5, 2026. Seven years have passed. Even the promise made to us remains unfulfilled. Other issues are a different matter,” he said.
Recalling the resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Abdullah added, “As we said while passing the resolution in the Assembly, we remain firm in our position. The injustices done to us will be corrected.”
Relief, rehabilitation for cloudburst-hit
The Chief Minister’s remarks came as he toured areas affected by recent cloudbursts that caused loss of lives, damage to homes and destruction of public infrastructure in parts of Poonch and Rajouri districts.
He said the government’s immediate priority had been rescue operations.
“Our immediate effort was to carry out rescue operations and trace those who are still missing. After that, we focused on recovery. Now comes the stage of rehabilitation and reconstruction,” Abdullah said.
He said the administration was assessing how to rebuild destroyed houses and assist families whose homes had suffered extensive damage.
“We have to see how people whose houses have been destroyed can be resettled, and how we can help those whose homes are still standing but have suffered heavy damage,” he said.
Abdullah said roads, schools, hospitals and flood protection infrastructure had also sustained significant damage.
“A great deal of government infrastructure has also been damaged. We will meet the officers in Poonch and do whatever we can to help people through this difficult period,” he said.
Asked whether the government would consider providing free ration in the worst-hit areas, Abdullah said it was open to the proposal if recommended by the district administration.
“If a proposal comes from the district administration that free ration should be arranged in the areas where the damage and crop losses have been the highest, we are ready to do that,” he said.
Recalling the 2014 floods, he added, “We are the people who, during the 2014 floods, made ration free across the whole of Jammu and Kashmir for six months, even though there were many areas that had not been affected by the floods.”
On demands for a special relief package, Abdullah said the government would first complete damage assessment in both Poonch and Rajouri before taking a decision.
“The visit has just begun. The damage is not limited to Poonch alone; Rajouri has also suffered. I cannot announce a separate package for Poonch while standing here. Today I am visiting Poonch, tomorrow I will visit Rajouri. After that, we will sit in Srinagar and decide what needs to be done. If a special package is required, we will certainly arrange it,” he said.
However, he declined to announce any package immediately, saying such decisions followed official procedures.
“Announcements of packages are not made before the media. There is a proper process. Let the preparations be completed. After that, whatever needs to be done will be done,” he said.
The Chief Minister also said financial assistance to affected families would be released as soon as officials completed the required documentation.
“The money is ready. As soon as we receive their bank account details and the remaining formalities are completed, the funds will be released,” he said.
Responding to a question on an alleged incident involving the Indian national flag by a former chief minister, Abdullah said he believed it was an inadvertent mistake rather than a deliberate act.
“You will have to ask that question to him. As far as I understand, it must have been a mistake. I am not prepared to believe that someone who has been the Chief Minister of a state would deliberately display the national flag upside down. If it happened by mistake, let us accept it as a mistake. I do not think it was done intentionally,” he said.
