Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah unfurled the National Flag at the 80th Independence Day function at Bakhshi Stadium in Srinagar on Saturday, taking the salute at the ceremonial parade and march past before a large gathering that included former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and senior members of the Legislative Assembly.
Addressing the gathering, Abdullah reaffirmed his government’s commitment to taking Jammu and Kashmir toward new heights of development, prosperity and progress, saying the administration would continue working to fulfil the aspirations of the people and honour those who sacrificed their lives for the region’s future. He said his government wanted every young person in every village to feel that Jammu and Kashmir was moving from uncertainty toward a better future, stressing that development and employment could not be achieved through words alone; the real test, he said, lay in translating commitments into action.
The Chief Minister reiterated his government’s pledge to pursue the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood while keeping development and public welfare at the centre of governance. Reflecting on eight decades of independence, he called the occasion one of joy, remembrance, gratitude and introspection, paying tribute to those who fought against tribal raiders and infiltrators in 1947 and recalling the contribution of former state leader Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
Abdullah underlined democracy and federalism as the country’s greatest strengths, describing India as a Union of States and calling for greater respect for the constitutional powers of individual states. He also pressed for transparency, merit and fairness in recruitment and admission processes across Jammu and Kashmir, saying public trust in these systems must be protected so that genuine candidates receive their rightful opportunities.
Touching on the situation across the Line of Control, the Chief Minister said developments there had reinforced his belief that the decisions taken by Jammu and Kashmir’s leadership eighty years ago were the right ones, adding that the region’s Legislative Assembly continues to reserve seats for people living in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir in the hope that they will one day be filled.
The Chief Minister inspected the parade and took the salute at the march past by contingents of the J&K Police, security forces, school students, and brass and pipe bands, while cultural programmes showcased the region’s heritage. He also presented awards to outstanding officers, employees, students, police and paramilitary personnel, and artists from the Cultural Academy, before concluding with wishes for a more prosperous and peaceful next eighty years for the nation.
