I-Day 2025: J&K CM Omar Abdullah announces door-to-door signature campaign for statehood

In his Independence Day address today at Bakshi Stadium, Omar Abdullah said, “Restoring statehood is crucial for the prosperity and progress of Jammu and Kashmir. I will not stop pressing for statehood, as it is the issue of everyone here.”

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today slammed at the Centre for delaying the statehood for the Union Territory. He declared that soon a door-to-door signature campaign across all 90 constituencies of UT will be launched. He said he would do it before the next Supreme Court hearing scheduled in 8 weeks, reports Dynamite News correspondent.

Omar Abdullah I-Day Address

In his Independence Day address today at Bakshi Stadium, Omar Abdullah said, "Restoring statehood is crucial for the prosperity and progress of Jammu and Kashmir. I will not stop pressing for statehood, as it is the issue of everyone here.”

Omar Abdullah further said the time has come that we should “step out of offices and raise our voice at the doors in Delhi where decisions are being made for us.”

Village Campaign

All our earlier efforts of writing letters to the Centre, resolutions, and meetings regarding the issue had gone unheard. Now our next step would involve reaching every village of Jammu and Kashmir to get support for statehood restoration before the Top Court would hear the petition on statehood restoration after eight weeks.

The CM said, “So from today, I and my colleagues will not sit. We will not get tired. We will use these eight weeks to reach every 90 assembly constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir, knocking on every door, and asking one question: Do you want J&K back to statehood or not?”

If anybody is unable to sign, they would be asked for thumb impressions, and the collected signatures would be submitted to both the Central government and the Supreme Court, added Omar Abdullah.

He further said that, “If people refuse to sign, I will accept that J&K is satisfied with the current situation.” But 'I am confident that “millions” would support the demand.'

No Link With Pahalgam Attack

Omar Abdullah further said that J&K statehood is not linked with Pahalgam terror attack. He 'termed the linking of restoration of statehood with Pahalgam terror attack “unjust” and “punishing people for a crime they did not commit.”'

The CM said that the people of J&K were being unfairly linked to the Pahalgam incident despite widespread condemnation across the UT.

“From Kathua to Kupwara, there is no city, village, or house where people did not say the attack was not in our name,” Omar said.