Kashmir issue not resolved permanently yet: Omar Abdullah
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday termed the BJP’s claim that the revocation of Article 370 resolved the issue of Kashmir permanently as irrational and asked if the Centre’s August 5, 2019 decisions also resolved the occupation of a part of the undivided princely state by Pakistan.
“The Kashmir problem still exists. Whether it is of this side of the border or that side we can have a discussion on that. But the issue of Kashmir has not been resolved permanently. We wish it is,” he said while replying to a question at his maiden press conference after taking over as the chief minister here.
Taking a swipe at the BJP over its assertion, Mr. Abdullah said, “If, for a minute, we accept the issue of the part of Jammu and Kashmir which is on this side (of the Line of Control) has been permanently resolved, one part of Jammu and Kashmir lies on the other side of the border. When the BJP claims the Kashmir issue is resolved permanently, should we believe the issue of the part of Kashmir on the other side of the LoC too has been resolved. Evidently, it hasn't.”
The BJP has not officially reacted to Mr. Abdullah’s statement, so far. But a senior party leader from Jammu Anil Kumar told this newspaper that the party’s stand on the status of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is unambiguous. “PoJK is part of India, and the BJP has pledged to reclaim it,” he said.
He also that both houses of the Indian Parliament had on February 22, 1994 unanimously passed a resolution, emphasizing that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India, and that Pakistan “must vacate the areas of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, which they have occupied through aggression”.