Pahalgam Attack: J&K Assembly Holds Special Session
Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, led a one-day special session in the assembly to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 people dead in the Baisaran meadows.
During the session, Abdullah stated that while the National Conference government would continue to demand statehood for the Union Territory, it would not do so at this moment when the nation is grieving the loss of 26 lives.
He emphasized, "The security of J&K is not in the hands of the state government currently. But I will not use this moment to demand statehood. After Pahalgam, with what face can I ask for statehood for J&K? Meri kya itni sasti siyasat hai? Does the lives of those 26 people not matter to me? We have talked about statehood in the past and will do so in the future too, but it will be shameful on my part if I go and tell the central government that 26 people have died, now give me statehood…"
The J&K Assembly passed a resolution condemning the Pahalgam Terrorist Attack.
Abdullah expressed his emotional distress, saying he did not know how to apologize to the families of the victims. "I did not know how to apologise to the families of the deceased… As the host, it was my duty to ensure the tourists returned safely. I couldn’t do it. I do not have the words to seek an apology… What should I say to those children who lost their father and to a wife who lost her husband, who got married a few days back? They asked what was our fault; we just came for the holidays… Whoever did this says they did it for us, but I want to ask: Did we approve it? Did we tell them to do this? We are not in support of this attack," he said.
Abdullah said that the hope had come from the vocal protests against this incident by the people of Kashmir. "In every bad situation, we should look for a ray of hope, but it’s very difficult to find such a light in these times… But for the first time in 26 years, I have seen the people of J&K coming out condemning the attack, saying that it was not done in my name… Violence and terrorism can only end when we are all united… We should not take any such step which pushes people away… no remark, no action of any kind," he said.
The Pahalgam attack took place on April 22 when a group of terrorists killed 26 people from a close distance after asking about their religion and forcing them to recite Kalma, an Islamic verse.
Reference : https://zeenews.india.com/india/wont-demand-statehood-jammu-and-kashmir-cm-omar-abdullahs-big-remark-amid-pahalgam-attack-2892378.html
