SRINAGAR: People’s Democratic Front (PDF) President and former Minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen on Saturday lashed out on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s announcement of a door-to-door signature campaign for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, terming it a “belated political gimmick.”
Addressing a public gathering at Gurwait in Budgam, Yaseen said the people of Jammu and Kashmir repose complete faith in the Supreme Court, which has already sought the Centre’s response within eight weeks on the plea for statehood.
“We hope and believe that statehood will be restored with full dignity and honour,” he remarked.
Questioning Omar Abdullah’s motives, Yaseen said: “Where was this urgency in the past five years? If Omar Abdullah truly cared, he would have initiated such measures long ago instead of waiting for the Supreme Court’s deadline to make headlines. A signature campaign is no substitute for genuine political action.”
He suggested that instead of symbolic drives, Omar should bring a bill in the Assembly pressing for the restoration of statehood. “If you need our support in the Opposition, we are ready. But this campaign will only belittle the people’s mandate,” he asserted.
While reiterating that the PDF supports every democratic effort for statehood, Yaseen stressed that leadership must be driven by sincerity, not electoral calculations. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir do not need token gestures; they need united political pressure on the Centre,” he said.
Appealing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, Yaseen urged the government to restore statehood without delay, preferably during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. “This is not a favour from Delhi; it is our constitutional right,” he maintained.
Turning his attention to local issues, Yaseen criticised the administration for keeping several tourist destinations in Budgam, including Doodhpathri, Yousmarg, and Tosamaidan, closed despite repeated appeals from locals. He said the restrictions have crippled the tourism-driven economy, depriving thousands of families dependent on transport, pony services, hotels, handicrafts, and small businesses.
“The Lieutenant Governor assured me in a recent meeting that restrictions will be lifted soon. We expect this promise to be implemented on priority so that livelihoods are restored and tourism is revived,” he said.
Concluding his address, Yaseen called upon all political parties to set aside differences and work collectively for the restoration of JK’s dignity, economy, and democratic rights. “People deserve governance with honour, not political one-upmanship,” he said.