Statehood demand not against anyone: CM’s Advisor

Kupwara, Aug 15: Nasir Aslam Wani, Advisor to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on Saturday urged the Centre to honour its commitment and restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest, terming it a genuine demand of the people.
Addressing an Independence Day function after unfurling the national flag here, Wani, said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have faced challenges for a long time but continued to uphold the spirit of democracy, peace and development.
“The people of J&K clearly want peace, development, employment, a democratic setup and a future with dignity,” he said.
Wani said the government under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has prioritised roads, education, healthcare, employment and other sectors, besides focusing on youth-centric schemes.
The CM’s Advisor said the government was also working towards greater digitalisation and accuracy in governance while taking into consideration the concerns of farmers, traders and other sections. “We acknowledge that there is a lot more to do,” Wani said. “People had not mandated the government merely for local governance. People mandated us for dignity, rights, identity and a better future.”
On statehood, Wani said its restoration was linked to the identity and representation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “Statehood is not only about government functioning. It is about people’s identity and their representation,” he said.
Advisor Wani said the demand for restoration of statehood was not against anyone but was being raised in the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “We hope the Centre will stick to its promises and restore statehood as soon as possible. We don’t want it against anyone, but for our people,” he said.
Wani also called for creating better employment opportunities for the youth and protecting Jammu and Kashmir’s land, resources, identity and cultural heritage.
He said the youth of J&K have the potential to represent the region anywhere in the world and called for greater focus on education, employment, skill development and technology. “We need to create an atmosphere where youth get education, employment, skills and technology,” Wani said.
The government’s efforts, the CM’s Advisor said, would continue towards development while pursuing the political and constitutional aspirations of the people. (KNO)