Addressing the Independence Day function at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar, Abdullah said that had the decisions taken in 2019 not been implemented-when Article 370 and 35A were abrogated and the erstwhile state was downgraded into the two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh-people in Muzaffarabad would today be protesting to demand their merger with this side of the region.
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has witnessed violent protests against the government in recent weeks, which also continued during the recently concluded assembly elections there.
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Abdullah said his government remained committed to fighting for the restoration of special status, constitutional guarantees and statehood for the region.
“Today witnessing the situation across LoC, the decision of my grandfather and his associates to fight raiders, tribals and invaders in 1947 was right. Today when we see the situation across the LoC, we are sad. I feel that if our situation was not changed in 2019, the people from the other side of LoC would be protesting to rejoin us again,” said Abdullah.
He said people across the LoC were no strangers and belonged to them. “That part of J&K is ours. We don’t consider them as strangers. Even today we have seats in our assembly for them and hope that one day they will fill these seats,” said Abdullah.Reciting lines from poet Iqbal’s Sare Jahan Se Acha, Abdullah said democracy and federalism were the two greatest strengths of India.
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“We have to save and strengthen both democracy and federalism. Federalism should be strengthened. It should start from J&K by restoration of everything that was snatched from us in 2019. Every state has to be strengthened and it will give a fresh lease of life to federalism,” said Abdullah.
He said interventions and interference by central agencies harmed and weakened federalism.
“Erosion of powers of states, harms federalism. People often come out on the streets because of this and we saw the same at Jantar Mantar,” said Abdullah.
The J&K chief minister said examinations and admissions to state institutions should be handled by the states, while the central government could handle admissions and recruitment to national institutions such as the IITs.
“…we hope that the examination and recruitment process in J&K is transparent and only those get the chance who deserve it,” said Abdullah.
