Srinagar, May 6, 2026 : Omar Abdullah has strongly criticized the continued delay in restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, questioning whether the people are being “punished” for not electing a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.
In a candid statement, the Chief Minister said the prolonged delay amounts to a breach of promise and has left the people in uncertainty. “We are well past the point of ‘early’ restoration. It has been nearly 20 months since our government came to power. This delay is needless, and nobody is explaining why,” he remarked.
Abdullah pointed out that both Parliament and the Supreme Court of India had indicated that statehood would be restored “at the earliest,” but the lack of a defined timeline has created ambiguity. He questioned the Centre’s repeated use of the phrase “appropriate time,” asking what benchmarks or conditions define it.
Referring to the Centre’s earlier roadmap—delimitation, elections, and restoration of statehood—Abdullah noted that the first two steps have already been completed. Despite this, there has been no clarity on the final step, leaving the issue in limbo.
Raising a pointed political question, he asked whether the delay is linked to electoral outcomes in the region. “If statehood depends on having a BJP Chief Minister, then it should have been clearly stated. People should know what they are being judged on,” he said, calling the situation “deceitful.”
He also referenced comments by Sunil Sharma, Leader of Opposition in J&K, who had questioned why statehood should be restored under the current government, using it to highlight what he sees as a political undertone behind the delay.
The backdrop to this issue remains the Revocation of Article 370 in August 2019, when the Centre revoked the region’s special status and bifurcated it into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Abdullah reiterated that while his party, the National Conference, remains committed to its core principles, it will not mislead people about what is realistically achievable under the current central government. He stated that expecting restoration of Article 370 in the present political scenario would be impractical.
“Those who are not ready to give you statehood—will they give you Article 370?” he asked, emphasizing the need for honesty in political discourse.
On the possibility of approaching the Supreme Court for clarity, Abdullah remained cautious, stating that all options remain open but such steps involve risks and must be considered carefully.
Responding to criticism from opposition parties and even sections within his own party, he said dissent is a natural part of democracy but rejected allegations that his government has abandoned its agenda. Taking a swipe at rivals, including factions led by Mehbooba Mufti, he accused some critics of building political careers on misleading narratives.
Abdullah concluded by reaffirming his commitment to transparency, stating that he would not “befool people” with unrealistic promises and would continue to press for statehood through sustained political engagement.
