Daijiworld Media Network - Srinagar

Srinagar, Aug 19: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday cautioned against politically motivated reinterpretation of history, urging that historical facts be taught truthfully, without being twisted to suit the ideology of any ruling party.

“History is what it is. Everyone knows India's past — it should not be rewritten for political ends,” Omar said while addressing reporters in Srinagar.

“Teach History, Don’t Rewrite It”

When asked about the Partition of India in 1947 and claims blaming Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Omar clarified:

“It was the British who divided us. That’s the truth. Let our children study real history and decide for themselves. Don’t manipulate it to score political points.”

He criticised the selective inclusion of ideological content in school textbooks, referencing recent additions about the RSS.
“If today chapters are added about the RSS, what happens when a new government comes in? Will they erase those and insert content aligned with their own politics? Let’s not make history a battleground.”

VP Election and Dhankhar’s Resignation

On the upcoming Vice President election, Omar called it unnecessary and mysterious, pointing to the unexpected resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar.
“We still don’t know why he resigned or where he went. I just hope he’s okay,” he said, adding that the INDIA bloc candidate should win.

Kishtwar Tragedy: “Little Hope, Maximum Relief”

Speaking on the devastating cloudburst in Kishtwar that left over 70 people missing, Omar struck a sombre tone.

“Sadly, there is little hope of finding survivors. Our immediate responsibility is to support the families affected. We’ve already started work on fulfilling their needs.”

He also emphasized the need for expert assessment of cloudburst-prone zones, saying the state must prepare better for such natural disasters in the future.

On Opposition Criticism: “They Oppose for the Sake of It”

When asked about the Opposition's criticism of his signature campaign demanding restoration of statehood, Omar said:

“Earlier they asked us to take the issue to the public. Now that we have, they oppose that too. The Opposition’s job is to oppose. Ours is to work—and that’s exactly what we’ll keep doing.”

Omar's remarks come at a time of heightened political debate over historical narratives, environmental challenges, and the evolving Centre-state dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir.