Srinagar, Aug. 17 -- The launch of a signature campaign for statehood restoration by J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah has drawn sharp criticism from leaders of various political parties terming it as shameful.

In his Independence Day speech at Bakshi Stadium on Friday, Omar said that he is going to launch a signature campaign across J&K for statehood restoration and will reach every house and village of UT. "In the next 8 weeks, we will reach out to all 90 assembly constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir, gathering signatures from the people in support of the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. We will not rest until our rights are restored. We cannot be denied equality," Omar Abdullah said while two former CMs Farooq Abdullah and...