SRINAGAR, August 6, 2025 : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said he has written to leaders of major political parties in Parliament, urging them to support the introduction of a bill for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood during the ongoing Monsoon Session.
Addressing reporters, Abdullah said, “I have written to all parties with significant parliamentary presence, asking them to fulfill the promise made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir regarding statehood. This is not about an individual or party—it’s about honouring a commitment made publicly, in the Supreme Court, and in Parliament.”
The CM noted that if the Centre does not act, the matter is also scheduled for a Supreme Court hearing on August 8. “The court had stated in its 2023 judgment that statehood must be restored at the earliest. Several years have passed, yet nothing has been done,” he added.
Abdullah credited the Supreme Court’s earlier intervention for ensuring timely elections in the UT. “If not for the court’s deadline, perhaps I wouldn’t be speaking to you today as Chief Minister,” he remarked.
In his July 29 letter addressed to the presidents of 42 political parties—including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge—Abdullah argued that the downgrading of J&K from a state to a Union Territory in 2019 was presented as temporary, but has become prolonged without justification.
Quoting PM Modi’s earlier assurances and the Centre’s commitments before the apex court, Abdullah stated: “Interpretations of ‘as soon as possible’ cannot stretch into years. The people of J&K have waited long enough—statehood must be restored now.”
Calling the delay “unjust” and a “constitutional red line,” the CM warned that continuing this arrangement sets a dangerous precedent where statehood appears to be a “discretionary favour” rather than a guaranteed constitutional right.
He also referenced recent events, such as the high voter turnout and peaceful Amarnath Yatra, as “extraordinary opportunities” for national reconciliation. “To let such moments pass due to narrow partisan calculations would be a monumental mistake,” he warned, quoting poet Muzaffar Razmi Kairanavi: “Lamhon ne khata ki thi, sadiyon ne saza payi.”
Abdullah expressed optimism about the region’s improving image, saying he hoped for increased tourist arrivals following the successful pilgrimage season.
