Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah said it would be shameful for him if he asks the Centre to give  a statehood to Jammu and Kashmir in wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people on April 22. 

While Speaking in assembly, Abdullah said, “I will not use this moment to demand statehood. After Pahalgam, with what face can I ask for statehood for Jammu and Kashmir? Meri kya itni sasti siyasat hai? We have talked about statehood in the past and will do so in the future too, but it will be shameful on my part if I go and tell the central government that 26 people have died, now give me statehood…”

Abdullah further said he did not know how he would apologise to the families of the victims of the attack, as he was unable to send them home safely.

“This incident affected the entire country. We have seen many such attacks in the past… An attack of such a large scale has been carried out after 21 years in Baisaran. I did not know how to apologise to the families of the deceased… Being the host, it was my duty to send the tourists back safely. I couldn’t do it. I do not have the words to seek an apology… What should I say to those children who lost their father and to a wife who lost her husband, who got married a few days back? They asked what was our fault; we just came for the holidays,” the chief minister said.