Srinagar, November 19, 2025 : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019 has failed to end the cycle of bloodshed in the region, asserting that those entrusted with maintaining security should be held accountable.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, Abdullah said that promises made in the aftermath of Article 370’s revocation had not been fulfilled.
“We want this cycle of violence to stop. Jammu and Kashmir, especially Kashmir, has witnessed immense bloodshed over the last 30–35 years. We were told this would end after 2019, but it has not,” he said.
The Centre had abrogated Article 370 on August 5, 2019, stripping J&K of its special status and bifurcating it into the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
“Those Responsible for Security Must Be Answerable”
Calling for greater accountability, Abdullah said:
“You will have to ask those responsible for our security why the violence has not stopped. That responsibility does not lie with us.”
The Chief Minister pointed to recurring incidents of violence, saying that despite New Delhi’s assurances, the ground reality continued to remain grim.
“If a bomb is not exploding in Delhi, then it goes off here,” he remarked, referring to the recent car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort and the accidental explosion at Nowgam Police Station.
CM Visits Families of Blast Victims
Abdullah expressed deep grief over the loss of lives in recent incidents. He said he visited five bereaved families on Tuesday and was scheduled to visit two more on Wednesday.
He paid condolences to the families of:
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Aijaz Afzal Mir (HMT Zainakote)
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Mohammad Amin Mir (Bemina)
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Showkat Ahmad Bhat (Qamarwari)
—all members of the Forensic Science Laboratory team.
He also visited the families of
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Suhail Ahmad Rather (Natipora, Revenue Department chowkidar)
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Mohammad Shafi Paray (Wanabal, tailor)
who died in the Nowgam blast on Friday.
Abdullah said the loss of innocent lives was a stark reminder that peace and stability remain elusive despite repeated assurances.
