Jammu, Feb 5 — Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that Jammu and Kashmir’s integration with the rest of India cannot be imposed through arrests or preventive detention laws, but must be built on trust, acceptance and emotional unity.
“Integration does not happen through PSA, arrests or force. Integration happens through hearts,” Omar said while replying to MLA Jasrotia during the discussion on the Vote of Thanks to the Lieutenant Governor’s address in the Legislative Assembly.
“Accept us from your heart, believe from your heart that you are ours and we are yours — only then will real integration take place. That is the integration both you and we dream of,” he added.
Addressing the contentious reservation issue, the Chief Minister informed the House that the proposal cleared by the Cabinet has already been forwarded to the Union Home Ministry through the Lieutenant Governor for further consideration.
“The Cabinet has formally sent its recommendations on reservation to the Lieutenant Governor, and it has been forwarded to the Home Ministry,” Omar said.
Reacting to protests over the matter, he suggested demonstrators direct their demands to the Centre rather than the elected government.
“Those who felt proud protesting outside my residence should now protest outside the Home Minister’s residence. Let them meet the Union Home Minister, who is visiting Jammu and Kashmir, and submit a memorandum to him,” the Chief Minister said.
Omar also expressed hope that administrative hurdles would be resolved soon, particularly issues linked to governance procedures.
“I am hopeful that the anomalies in the Transaction of Business Rules will be rectified in the coming days,” he said.