Srinagar, Aug 15 (UNI) J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s announcement of a door-to-door signature campaign across the Union Territory for the restoration of J&K’s statehood has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties.
Peoples Democratic Party MLA and legislature party leader in J&K Assembly Waheed Parra accused Omar of “betraying” the people of Jammu and Kashmir by reducing the fight for statehood to “token gestures” through a signature campaign.
“Omar Abdullah owes an apology not a signature campaign for normalising 5th August. With 50 MLAs behind him, he has reduced the fight for J&K’s statehood to token gestures, after seeking votes door-to-door on the promise of restoring pre–5th August status. This is not just retreat, it is betrayal,” Parra said in a post on X.
The PDP MLA claimed that the people gave Omar Abdullah a historic mandate to “fight for Article 370 and statehood, not to stage political theatre.”
“If he has already surrendered, he must admit it and apologise to every citizen of J&K for selling promises he never intended to keep,” Parra said.
The Peoples Conference president and MLA Handwara Sajad Lone asked Omar to stop “theatrics and pass an Assembly resolution on statehood.”
He warned against “making a mockery” of the “cause” and urged a dignified, constitutional route.
He challenged Omar to “once and for all” explain his reluctance to have a resolution for statehood passed in the Legislative Assembly — a constitutional body elected through the Election Commission of India.
“Our resolutions are not binding on the Supreme Court, but inherent in them will be constitutional dignity. It will be a constitutional message to the highest court in the country. Political or signature campaigns have no legal or constitutional sanctity. Name one event empirically in India or anywhere in the world where signature campaigns have altered legal interpretations. They are not even admissible,” he asserted.
Recalling that “a signature campaign for independence was carried out by Yasin Malik also — how far did that campaign go,” Lone accused Omar of showing “disregard, disdain and contempt” for the very Assembly that gave him the CM’s position.
“You derive your power, perks and Chief Ministerial position from the Assembly. Why this contempt for the very institution that has made you the CM?” he asked.
“I beg you — please stop this childish and immature attitude. We will support any campaign unconditionally. But please ensure that a resolution from the UT Assembly is also passed and sent to the Supreme Court. We are facing a battle of a lifetime. A door-to-door signature campaign is nothing but theatrics. Tell me, is the Supreme Court answerable to majoritarian assertions or to law? Majoritarianism is something politicians practise. Supreme Court practises law,” Lone cautioned.
National Conference president and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said the signature campaign for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood will be run vigorously.
“The campaign will be run vigorously,” Farooq told reporters in Srinagar after attending the Independence Day function.
