Hope PM Modi, Amit Shah keep vow to restore statehood: Omar Abdullah

NEW DELHI: NC vice-president Omar Abdullah struck a cordial note with Centre after PM Modi complimented his party’s “commendable performance” in J&K polls, saying he looks forward “to a constructive relationship in the true spirit of federalism so the people of J&K may benefit from continued development and good governance”.
Conceding in separate interviews to news agencies and TV channels that J&K could not afford an antagonistic relationship with central govt, Abdullah said both PM and home minister Amit Shah are “honourable men” and the restoration of J&K’s statehood, as promised by them on the floor of Parliament and through their representative in SC “should happen at the earliest”.
“Nowhere has BJP ever said – first there will be our govt and then statehood. The PM never said that. People of J&K have spoken and I hope the PM will now be magnanimous and restore statehood at the earliest,” he stated.
Also underlining that J&K will not benefit if the LG decides to be antagonistic, Abdullah said he believed that once statehood is restored, the next move should be to restore the legislative council. “We must give representation to all,” he said. Omar added that the NC-Congress govt would have to take the people of Jammu along and give them a sense of belonging and reassure them “that this govt is not going to work on partisan or party lines”.
“This govt is going to be as much for the people who voted for BJP as it is going to be a govt for the people who voted for National Conference or Congress,” he said. Stating that the J&K coalition govt will have to find a way of working with the Centre, he hoped the Union govt would respect the mandate of the people and join the J&K govt to resolve the problems of the people.