SRINAGAR, July 18, 2025: National Conference president and former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Friday welcomed the Congress party’s move to formally urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
“I congratulate Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi for taking up the issue with the Prime Minister,” Abdullah told reporters in Srinagar. He added that a joint meeting of political leaders is scheduled for July 19 evening, where the demand will be discussed further.
The remarks came in response to a letter written by Kharge and Gandhi to PM Modi ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, emphasizing the need to restore full statehood to J&K, which was revoked on August 5, 2019, following the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the region into two Union Territories — Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh.
When asked whether the Centre would reinstate statehood, Abdullah said, “Why not? It is our constitutional right. If they don’t, we will see.”
On being questioned about the US designating The Resistance Front (TRF) as a foreign terrorist organization for its alleged role in the recent Pahalgam terror attack, Abdullah said it would be premature to comment.
“Let the investigation conclude first. Making statements before that would be inappropriate,” he added.
