Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday asserted that the demand for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir was non-negotiable, vowing to continue the struggle through democratic and peaceful means without allowing the region to slip back into turmoil.

Speaking at a public gathering in Anantnag, as per news agency Kashmir News Corner --- KNC, CM Omar said he was ready to agitate for statehood but would not risk another spell of bloodshed in the Valley. “I will fight politically and peacefully. But I will not allow Kashmir to be pushed back into flames. Our people have already suffered enough,” he said.

Rejecting any possibility of aligning with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for political gain, Omar declared, “If bringing BJP into the government can restore statehood, I am ready to resign today. Let someone else take over—but I will never compromise.”

The CM recalled that even after previous elections, he had the option to join hands with BJP like others had done in the past, but chose to stay away to “keep them out of J&K’s power structure.”

Responding to calls for street protests, Omar drew a parallel with Ladakh. “There, firing started within an hour of protests. In Kashmir, bullets will rain within ten minutes. I do not want to see our families grieving again,” he said.

Reiterating that statehood was a matter of identity rather than administration, Omar said, “We are not against development. But dignity comes with statehood. We will keep fighting for it without surrendering our principles.” (KNC)