Unrest in PoK vindicates 80 years old decision of J&K leaders: Omar Abdullah

Against the backdrop of growing turmoil in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the developments across the Line of Control had reinforced his belief that the decision taken by J&K’s leaders 80 years ago to accede to India was the right one.

“We consider those people as our own, not strangers,” Omar said, pointing out that the J&K Legislative Assembly still keeps seats vacant for representatives from that part of the territory. He said the hope remained that one day its people would be able to occupy those seats.

Speaking at the 80th Independence Day celebrations at Bakhshi Stadium, Srinagar on Saturday, Omar said that the sacrifices made by the people of Jammu & Kashmir eight decades ago continued to hold relevance and that their aspirations had to be honoured through peace, development, democracy and justice.

Calling for continuous engagement between the government and the people, the Chief Minister said governance could be meaningful only when the government remained connected with the aspirations and expectations of the people.

Referring to the attacks by Pakistani invaders, he recalled the sacrifice of brave people who raised the call of “Hamlavar Khabardar; Hum Kashmiri Hain, Tayyaar” and those who made the supreme sacrifice in resisting the tribal invasion.

The Chief Minister particularly remembered Master Abdul Aziz, a National Conference leader who was killed in Muzaffarabad while resisting the tribal attack by Pakistan backed forces.

Omar called for strengthening the country’s federal structure by empowering States and respecting their constitutional rights, asserting that India’s strength lies in its democracy and its character as a Union of States.

He said the government had the responsibility to work, the opposition had the responsibility to question and hold the government accountable inside and outside the Legislative Assembly, while the media had an important role in questioning both.

He said the powers and responsibilities entrusted to States under the Constitution must be protected. He said interference in areas traditionally falling within the States’ domain, including education and health, weakens federalism.

The Chief Minister said that “when the powers of States were eroded or central agencies interfered in areas falling within the States’ domain, federalism was weakened”.

The Chief Minister called for greater transparency and fairness in recruitment and admission processes, stressing that public trust in institutions must be restored through merit-based and impartial systems.

He cited education and health as areas where States traditionally had an important role and said that national-level examinations for national institutions were legitimate, while State institutions should retain the right to conduct their own examinations and admissions.

“In Jammu and Kashmir, whether it is admission, recruitment or any other process, it should be transparent, merit-based and fair, so that those who genuinely deserve a job or a seat get their rightful opportunity,” he added.