Omar Abdullah on Wednesday sharply questioned the continued delay in restoring full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, asking whether the people of the Union Territory were being “punished” for not electing a BJP chief minister.
Speaking during a public interaction, Abdullah said the Centre had repeatedly assured the people of Jammu and Kashmir that statehood would be restored after the Assembly elections, but no concrete timeline has yet been announced.
“Are the people of Jammu and Kashmir being punished because they did not elect a BJP Chief Minister? Is that the reason for delaying statehood?” Abdullah asked while criticizing the Union government over the issue.
The National Conference leader said the people had participated in the democratic process with the expectation that constitutional and political commitments made by the Centre would be honoured. He argued that continued uncertainty over statehood was creating disappointment among citizens.
Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh — in August 2019 after the abrogation of Article 370 by the Central government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party. Since then, several opposition parties and regional leaders have demanded restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Abdullah also referred to earlier statements made by Union leaders and the Supreme Court proceedings in which the Centre had indicated that statehood would be restored at an appropriate time following elections. He said the delay was now raising political and constitutional concerns.
The BJP, however, has maintained that the restoration process would take place in accordance with national interest and administrative requirements. Party leaders have repeatedly stated that peace, security and development remain the Centre’s priority in the region.
Political analysts believe the issue of statehood is likely to remain at the centre of Jammu and Kashmir’s political discourse in the coming months, especially after the return of an elected government in the Union Territory.
