India, Aug. 15 -- Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said hopes for restoring the region's statehood were high on Independence Day, but the struggle will continue despite fading optimism.

"My well-wishers told me something big for J&K would be announced on Independence Day. The ray of hope is fading, but we won't give up," he said on the restoration of statehood. "We were told J&K will be brought on par with other parts of country. Today I want to ask, are we?" he added

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Hindustan Times....