Omar Abdullah Starts Signature Campaign for J&K Statehood

'For the next eight weeks,' he declared, 'we will travel across all 90 constituencies.'

- ASHIQ MIR

On the morning of Independence Day, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir stood once again at Bakshi Stadium. Eleven years ago, he had addressed the gathering as the elected head of a state. Today, he spoke as the Chief Minister of a Union Territory.

This time, there was no talk of development, progress, or celebration. Instead, he opened with an announcement: a signature campaign.

"For the next eight weeks," he declared, "we will travel across all 90 constituencies. We will go to every village and every mohalla. We will ask for one thing—the restoration of statehood."

The campaign, he stressed, was not about power or position. "If we fail, I will accept that. But I believe the people want their state back. We will take these signatures to Delhi, to the court. Only then will I rest."

REMEMBERING KISHTWAR TRAGEDY

The Chief Minister began his speech by referring to the cloudburst in Kishtwar, which left over 60 dead and more than 100 injured. Rescue operations, he said, were still underway.

He offered condolences to the victims' families and promised government support. But he also said the administration would investigate whether there had been any lapses. "We owe that to the people," he noted.

A DIFFERENT CHAIR