New Delhi, Oct 24: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah made his first official visit to Delhi after assuming office and held a crucial meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. The meeting, which lasted over 30 minutes, focused on key issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir, including the region’s security situation and ongoing development projects, according to official sources.
Abdullah used the opportunity to formally present a resolution passed by his newly formed cabinet, urging the central government to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood “in its original form.” The resolution, seen as a major step towards addressing long-standing grievances in the region, aims to restore constitutional rights and safeguard the unique identity of the state’s residents. The cabinet had passed this resolution last week, shortly after Abdullah’s National Conference secured a commanding victory in the union territory’s first-ever assembly elections, winning 42 of 90 seats.
During the meeting, Abdullah also presented Prime Minister Modi with a traditional Kashmiri shawl as a gesture of goodwill. Officials highlighted that the resolution for statehood restoration has gained approval from Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, reinforcing its importance for the political and constitutional future of the region.
In addition to the statehood issue, Abdullah and Modi discussed the ongoing security challenges in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in light of recent terror attacks. Just four days earlier, militants from the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba group killed seven civilians, including a doctor, in Ganderbal district, further heightening security concerns.
Earlier in the day, Abdullah also met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to discuss infrastructure development in the region. The chief minister emphasized the need for improved road connectivity to facilitate economic growth and enhance public services in Jammu and Kashmir. As a token of appreciation, Abdullah presented Gadkari with a Kashmiri shawl during the meeting.
Following his discussions with Gadkari, Abdullah met with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to seek support for improving the security environment in Jammu and Kashmir. Abdullah underscored the need for a stable security framework to ensure the timely completion of development initiatives in the region.
The meeting with Prime Minister Modi comes just a day after Abdullah’s interaction with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, where the chief minister reiterated the demand for statehood restoration. During that meeting, Abdullah briefed Shah on the security and political situation in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in relation to ongoing challenges since the reorganization of the region into a union territory in 2019. Notably, since the reorganization, the police force in Jammu and Kashmir has been under the jurisdiction of the Union home ministry.
Abdullah’s series of high-profile meetings in the capital highlights his administration’s efforts to secure both political stability and development for Jammu and Kashmir, as well as to navigate the ongoing security challenges. His outreach to the central leadership aims to restore public trust, reinstate statehood, and ensure long-term peace and prosperity for the region.