In the recently launched book, ‘India Tomorrow: Conversations with the Next Generation of Political Leaders’ by Pradeep Chibber and Harsh Shah, Omar Abdullah’s interview has found a lot of media attention.
In his interview, Omar has said that he will neither be “Indian enough for extreme right-wing nationalist politicians” nor “Kashmiri enough for those who don’t see Kashmir’s future as part of India”. It is therefore best to be “true to oneself”.
“Jammu Kashmir is an integral part of India. As much as I would like to say that my detention and the circumstances of the 5th of August have caused me to shift my thinking on that, it hasn’t. Because the position I’ve taken, takes into account all sorts of factors, and I do not believe that Jammu & Kashmir has a future for itself outside of its relationship with India” Omar has said in the interview.
Though, he adds, “it’s going to be very difficult for people like me to continue to justify why I believe Jammu & Kashmir must be a part of India. Delhi hasn’t left us with much to talk about.”
Omar Abdullah has said that there is no point in talking to the Prime Minister about the abrogation and revocation of Article 370 and statehood.
“It’s stupid. It’s pointless. It’s just tokenism. It’s the worst form of politics because all I’d be doing is trying to appease the voters, knowing full well that nothing will come out of it.”
Omar Abdullah, along with other mainstream politicians were arrested last year on 5th August after Article 370 was abrogated. Some of them, including Omar Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, were charged under PSA.
Mehbooba Mufti is still under house arrest.