'With what face can I ask for statehood for J&K?' Omar Abdullah's in J&K assembly after Pahalgam attack

NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah condemned the the dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam in a moving speech during the special session of the state assembly on Monday. Abdullah said that he has no face to ask statehood for J&K after the terror attack that claimed 26 lives.
"I will not use this moment to demand statehood. After Pahalgam, with what face can I ask for statehood for Jammu and Kashmir? Meri kya itni sasti siyasat hai? We have talked about statehood in the past and will do so in the future too, but it will be shameful on my part if I go and tell the central government that 26 people have died, now give me statehood," the J&K CM said.

Abdullah said that militancy and terrorism in the state will end when the people of the state support it, and after the Pahalgam attack people "are reaching that point." He further added that "with guns, militancy can be controled but not eradicated."
"We should not take any steps that pushes people away from us, there should be no talk no action that damages this movement, with guns we can control militancy but not eradicate it, it will end when the people will support us and now it seems that the people are reaching that point," he said.
On Monday, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly passed a resolution expressing profound shock and anguish over the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 innocent lives. The resolution, moved by deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary during a special session, began with members observing a two-minute silence in honour of the victims. It strongly condemned the heinous and cowardly act, describing it as an assault on the values of Kashmiriyat, constitutional principles, and the spirit of unity and peace.
The Assembly reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to preserving communal harmony, fostering peace, and promoting inclusive development across the region. It expressed solidarity with the victims and their families, offering condolences and pledging full support in their time of grief. The House paid special tribute to Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a pony ride operator who sacrificed his life while saving tourists, hailing his bravery as an enduring inspiration.