Srinagar | WTNS | Oct 01:Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday reaffirmed that his government will pursue the restoration of statehood through democratic and non-violent means, ruling out any alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to achieve the objective.

Addressing a gathering in Anantnag, Omar said he was prepared to protest but would not allow the Valley to suffer “destruction, devastation and bloodshed.” He emphasized that his fight for statehood would remain peaceful, warning that protests could lead to violent crackdowns similar to recent incidents in Ladakh.

“If inclusion of BJP in the government will help restore statehood, then take my resignation and make any other MLA the Chief Minister, but I will not compromise,” he said. Recalling past opportunities to align with the BJP, Omar stressed he chose to keep the party away from power in J&K, prioritizing principles over expediency.

He also criticized the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, saying it had harmed constitutional protections for the region and reaffirmed that statehood is central to Kashmir’s identity. “We are not against development or governance, but statehood is our identity. We will not rest until it is restored and that too without surrendering our principles,” he added.