Beigh Arif CNI

Srinagar, Aug 15 : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday announced a state-wide campaign involving himself, his colleagues, will reach every Legislative Assembly segment to reach every household in Jammu and Kashmir, collecting signatures and thumb impressions from residents in support of restoring statehood to the Union Territory.

“We will not let a single house or person remain unsigned during next eight weeks,” Omar as per news agency JKNS said, vowing to personally seek endorsements from every corner of J&K. He added that the campaign would ensure participation from even those unable to physically sign, by recording their thumb impressions.

Addressing the Independence Day gathering, Omar recalled, “More than six years have passed since the people of Jammu and Kashmir last heard their representative address them from here. When I last spoke from this platform, I was the Chief Minister of a state. We had our own identity in the country, a constitution, a flag, and statehood. Today, none of those remain.”The Chief Minister remarked that while the restoration of democracy took time, the people now finally had their own elected government. “We had a bit of hope that on the 15th of August, there would be a major announcement for J&K. I was even told that papers were being prepared (for statehood). We waited, but nothing happened,” he said