Sajad Lone Slams CM’s Signature Campaign – Alfaaz – The Words

Srinagar: Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone on Friday mounted a scathing attack on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s plan to launch a door-to-door signature campaign for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, dismissing it as “theatrics” devoid of any legal or constitutional sanctity.

In a post on X, Lone said that the Supreme Court answers only to the law, not to “majoritarian assertions,” and argued that a resolution passed in the Legislative Assembly would be a far more dignified and effective way to approach the court. “We are facing a battle of a lifetime. A door-to-door signature campaign is nothing but theatrics. Which is the more dignified way to approach the Supreme Court—a mass petition or an Assembly resolution?” he asked.

Lone maintained that his party would support any genuine move toward restoring statehood but cautioned against reducing the issue to what he described as a political gimmick. “We are already reeling from uncoordinated legal interventions. Let us approach the Supreme Court as a constitutional entity, not as another ‘Tom, Dick, and Harry.’ Signature campaigns have no legal or constitutional sanctity,” he said.

The PC chief questioned Omar Abdullah’s reluctance to have such a resolution tabled and passed in the Legislative Assembly, stressing that the CM himself derives authority from the very institution he appears to sideline. “Why show contempt for the institution that made you Chief Minister? Why bypass it again?” he asked, pointing out that while Assembly resolutions are not binding on the court, they carry “constitutional dignity” and clearly reflect the will of the people.

Lone further argued that there is no precedent, in India or elsewhere, where a signature campaign has altered legal interpretations, citing a similar effort by separatist leader Yasin Malik that, he said, yielded nothing. He accused Omar Abdullah of indirectly shielding the BJP by not pressing for an Assembly resolution, thereby allowing them to avoid taking a position on statehood.

Concluding his remarks, Lone urged the Chief Minister to act decisively and constitutionally. “Pass a resolution in the Assembly before going to the Supreme Court. Don’t set the stage for the denial of statehood. This is a real ideological battle, not a video game. Act your age and stature and put an end to theatrics,” he said.