SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 ; Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday advised political leaders in Ladakh and Kargil not to rely solely on verbal assurances from the Central Government regarding their demands for constitutional safeguards concerning land and jobs.
Speaking to reporters in Pulwama, Abdullah said Ladakh has its own distinct issues and that the concerns of Jammu and Kashmir are separate. However, he urged Ladakh’s leadership to seek commitments from the Centre in writing and with official signatures before relying on them.
Omar Cites J&K Statehood Assurance
Abdullah referred to Jammu and Kashmir’s demand for restoration of statehood, saying his government had also received what he described as a verbal assurance that statehood would be restored after the Assembly elections.
He said nearly two years had passed since the elections and that the assurance had not materialised.
The Chief Minister suggested that leaders from Ladakh and Kargil seek a formal written commitment, potentially in the form of an affidavit, before accepting assurances from the Centre.
Pulwama Development Under Review
Abdullah was in Pulwama to review the progress of development projects and utilisation of allocated funds.
He said Pulwama could rank among the top five of Jammu and Kashmir’s 20 districts in terms of project execution and expenditure of allocated funds.
The Chief Minister asked the district administration to accelerate utilisation of available funds during the remaining two to three months of the current working season. He also said additional funds could be arranged from other sources if required after the existing budget was fully utilised.
Projects Worth Around ₹100 Crore Highlighted
Abdullah said projects worth around ₹100 crore in Pulwama were either inaugurated or had their foundation stones laid on Wednesday.
The projects include works related to:
- Roads
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Bridges
- Dairy processing
He said development activities were progressing across the district’s constituencies and that visible work was taking place in multiple sectors.
NHM Strike: Omar Calls for Dialogue
Responding to the ongoing agitation by National Health Mission (NHM) employees, Abdullah said protesting is a democratic right but maintained that his government would engage in talks on their demands only after the strike is called off.
He urged the employees to return to dialogue, arguing that negotiations should not take place while an agitation is continuing.
NHM employees have been seeking measures including pay parity, job security, regularisation and social-security benefits, with their strike continuing in September.
Declines Daily Response to Leader of Opposition
Abdullah also declined to respond to Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma’s remarks concerning the duration of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
He said he would respond to only one statement from the Leader of Opposition each month, noting that Sharma makes statements frequently and that he did not have time to respond to them every day.
The Chief Minister said he had responded to one such statement the previous day and would make his next response in October.
