Amid buzz of another bifurcation of J&K on anniversary of Article 370 abrogation, Omar says ‘nothing bad or good' will happen
SRINAGAR: Amid rumours of further bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir a day before the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, chief minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said 'nothing will happen tomorrow'.
'I've heard every possible permutation & combination about what to expect in J&K tomorrow so let me stick my neck out and say nothing will happen tomorrow - fortunately nothing bad will happen but unfortunately nothing positive will happen either (sic.),' Omar wrote on X, as the state remained abuzz that Jammu may become a separate state.
'I'm still optimistic about something positive for J&K in this monsoon session of Parliament but not tomorrow (sic.),'
Omar said in a veiled reference to restoration of statehood, adding: 'And no, I haven't had any meetings or conversations with people in Delhi. This is just a gut feeling. Let's see this time tomorrow.'
While Omar appeared to dismiss the rumours, PDP's Iltija Mufti said, 'Since a week now, hushed whispers suggest something drastic yet again is in the offing. Insinuations dressed in metaphors & dark humour.'
Her mother and former CM Mehbooba Mufti, in a post on X, criticised the abrogation of Article 370, but did not make any reference to the latest speculations.
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'Aug 4, 2019, we were silenced. Aug 5 our voice, our rights, our Constitution taken without our consent. What was ours by birth and by belonging was stripped away overnight. Not a whisper of warning. Not a shred of justice. Today, we remember. We resist,' she said.
Earlier in the day, J&K Police held a high-level security review meeting, chaired by DGP Nalin Prabhat, amid the speculations. A police spokesperson said the DGP was apprised of the prevailing security situation in the UT by the IGs and heads of various wings, including intelligence.
Prabhat emphasized the need to enhance the security measures and design effective counterinsurgency strategies for smooth and peaceful conduct of coming events in J&K, including Independence Day.
He also directed the officers to increase surveillance on anti-national elements, intensify area domination exercises, and enhance the security of vulnerable targets.
The DGP directed the district police chiefs to closely monitor social media platforms to prevent any attempt to spread misinformation impacting public safety and order, the spokesperson said.
In the context of the rumours about another big announcement, Lt-General (retired) Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon, who was serving as the 48th commander of 15 Corps in Kashmir when Article 370 was abrogated, said on X: 'The peace in Kashmir has come about at a great cost of human lives --- of security forces personnel and innocent civilians. It's still fragile, as was evident from the Pahalgam terror attack. For the sake of those who laid down their lives in this journey of peace, as also those whose lives are going to be impacted by any decision on it, we should not rush into any hasty decision as consolidation phase for restoration of peace is going on.
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