Gives credit of free & fair polls to PM, ECI
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 13: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfil his promises of restoration of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar, in his address after the inauguration of Sonamarg tunnel, praised Modi for fulfilling two of his promises out of three made during his speech in Srinagar after assuming the PM office last year for the third straight term.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
The Chief Minister said that people, including his colleagues, and journalists ask him about Statehood restoration. “I tell them that the Prime Minister kept his promise of elections and so my heart says that very soon, you will fulfil your third promise as well and Jammu and Kashmir will once again get the status of a State,” he said.
Omar hoped the Statehood promise made by the Prime Minister will be fulfilled soon.
“The two promises including the ‘Delhi Ki Doori’, as well as the conducting Assembly elections in J&K have been fulfilled by you. My heart believes that the promise will also be fulfilled by you soon,” he hoped.
The CM’s Statehood remark in the presence of the PM was welcomed by the audience with a round of applause.
Omar said the inauguration of projects like the Sonamarg tunnel would definitely bridge the gap between Jammu and Kashmir’s “‘dil’ (heart)” and Delhi.
The CM said the biggest positive of the election in Jammu and Kashmir was that there was no complaint of rigging, misuse of official machinery or repoll anywhere and “the credit for it goes to you, your team and the Election Commission of India”.
Omar paid tribute to the doctor and six migrant workers who were killed in an attack near the tunnel site on October 20 last year. Click here to watch video
He said terrorism will be defeated to ensure peace and development besides safeguarding democracy in J&K.
Omar read out the names of the seven victims in last year’s attack near the tunnel and said they sacrificed their lives for this project and the development of Jammu and Kashmir and the country.
“I belong to a political regime whose thousands of leaders and workers have been killed in the last 35 years because we were… not ready to see the country being divided,” he said.
The CM said the Prime Minister’s presence in the tunnel inauguration programme is a testament to the fact that those who carried out the attack do not want the development of this region and the country.
“They do not want a peaceful atmosphere and democracy. But they can never be successful. They will always have to face defeat here and we will never allow them to cause any harm to democracy,” he said.
Omar said there were many challenges in building the tunnel and the work on the project was also halted.
“The people of J&K have been waiting for this tunnel for a very long time. Because of this tunnel, the people will not have to come to the lower parts. We will be able to develop Sonamarg as a tourist destination and this tunnel will also facilitate speedy work on the under-construction Zojila tunnel,” he said.
The CM thanked Modi for visiting Kashmir in the cold weather and said, “We hope that you will come again and again, and join in our happiness.”
The Chief Minister further noted the peace established along the borders under the Prime Minister’s leadership, which has transformed far-flung areas.
“This peace has brought transformation to remote regions like Machil, Gurez and Keran. Whether in development or tourism, these areas are witnessing remarkable changes. The number of tourists visiting these places is beyond imagination, and we expect it to grow further.”