"Shame on Me If I Demand Statehood Today," Emotional Omar Abdullah Mourns Pahalgam Attack Victims

Jammu (The Uttam Hindu): Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday passed a resolution expressing deep shock and pain over the barbaric terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam on April 22 in a one-day special session. During this, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah became emotional. He said that he has no words to apologize for this incident.

CM Abdullah said, "We can control terrorism through guns but we cannot eliminate it." He also said that the security of Jammu and Kashmir is not the responsibility of the elected government of Jammu and Kashmir, but I will not use this opportunity for statehood. There should be no politics, no statements on this occasion, only strong condemnation of the attack. Abdullah said, "On this occasion, I will not demand statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. How can I demand statehood for Jammu and Kashmir? We will always demand statehood, but if I make such a demand today, shame on me."

He said that being the Chief Minister of the state and the Tourism Minister, I had invited those tourists to visit Kashmir, but I could not send them back safely. Omar said that this attack has hollowed us from inside. In the Vidhan Sabha, Omar paid tribute to all the 26 tourists killed in the attack by reading their names. Omar said that no other Vidhan Sabha or Parliament can understand the pain of those people more than this Vidhan Sabha. Many people present in this Vidhan Sabha have lost their loved ones in terrorist attacks. What can I say to them, to those small children who saw their father covered in blood. To the widow of that Navy officer who had been married for a few days.