Seeks immediate restoration of statehood
Srinagar, Jun 5: Asserting that restoration of statehood remains the biggest political demand of the people of the Union Territory, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said Jammu and Kashmir chose to be part of India in 1947.
He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have repeatedly demonstrated their faith in democracy, rejected violence and continue to seek accountable governance along with restoration of their constitutional and democratic rights.
Speaking at The Hindu Huddle 2026 in Bengaluru, Omar termed the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 as the “biggest policy mistake” made by the Government of India.
Responding to questions on India-Pakistan relations and Kashmir’s role in the geopolitical landscape, Omar said Jammu and Kashmir remains central to tensions between the two countries.
“Pakistan wants us. We are a part of India. We chose to be a part of India. That was something they couldn’t accept and still are unable to accept,” he said.
He said while the people of J&K are directly affected by India-Pakistan relations, they are rarely consulted in the dialogue process.
“We are, for want of a better phrase, the elephant in the room,” he said.
Referring to the security situation, Omar said last year’s incidents in Pahalgam showed that militancy and violence cannot be taken lightly.
“We became complacent about the security situation. We thought the dark days of militancy where innocent people would be killed were behind us. Unfortunately, we saw them again,” he said.
He also expressed concern over the international situation, particularly developments around Iran, saying many students from Jammu and Kashmir study there.
‘Statehood promised, but nowhere in sight’
Seeking restoration of statehood, Omar said the Centre had publicly committed to a three-stage process involving delimitation, elections and restoration of statehood.
“We had delimitation. We had elections in which people participated in record numbers. But statehood is nowhere to be seen,” he said.
Questioning the Centre’s repeated reference to restoring statehood at an “appropriate time”, Omar asked the Government of India to define the parameters being used to determine that timeline.
“What is the yardstick by which I will measure the appropriate time? Is it violence? Is it the international situation with Pakistan? These are things I do not control,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the present Union Territory arrangement weakens democratic governance and limits the powers of the elected government.
“How can I be Chief Minister without choosing my Chief Secretary, Director General of Police or Finance Secretary? What sort of government is that?” he asked.
He said governance and delivery of services would improve once Jammu and Kashmir regains statehood. “I am not using absence of statehood as an excuse. I am saying governance and delivery will be better when you give us what you promised,” he said.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on restoration of statehood, Omar said, “We were told publicly that this is not just any promise, this is Modi’s promise. All we are asking is that the promise be kept.”
