SRINAGAR, Sept 29: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has issued a stern warning to the Centre against further testing the patience of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, urging it to fulfil its commitment to restore statehood to the Union Territory without delay. Speaking to reporters in Ganderbal, Omar said the people of J&K have shown remarkable restraint since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, but that patience must not be mistaken for indifference. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir have been waiting patiently for the restoration of their statehood. I strongly urge the Central Government not to test their patience any longer,” he asserted.
Omar cautioned New Delhi that it does not take much to disrupt peace and stability, pointing to the situation in Ladakh as an example. “We are not the kind of people who take the law into our own hands or disturb the atmosphere. But it doesn’t take long for the situation to change. Look at Ladakh: within a few hours, protests erupted, firing began, and innocent lives were lost,” he said, warning that prolonged delays on sensitive promises could have unintended consequences.
Reiterating that statehood is a fundamental constitutional right and not a favour, Omar reminded the Centre of its commitments. “Statehood is not charity; it is our right. The processes of delimitation and elections are complete. The next logical step is the restoration of statehood. People have waited patiently, but now the time has come to honour the promise made by both the Government of India and the Supreme Court,” he said, adding that his party would continue to press for this demand through peaceful and constitutional means.
Drawing a parallel with the events of 2019, Omar said that those who once celebrated the abrogation of Article 370 and the conversion of the state into a Union Territory are now realising the ground realities. “The same people who distributed sweets in August 2019 are now regretting it. They have realised that development has not accelerated under the Union Territory model,” he remarked. He also recalled cautioning the people of Ladakh about the risks of seeking UT status. “We had warned them about possible unintended consequences. Unfortunately, their lives have not improved under the new arrangement.”
Emphasising his party’s unwavering commitment to the people, Omar pledged to continue working for their welfare and development. “We will not allow the people of Jammu and Kashmir to feel helpless or abandoned. We will ensure access to clean drinking water, better roads, improved healthcare, quality education, playgrounds for children, and a reliable power supply,” he said.
Reflecting on his political journey, Omar expressed gratitude for the trust people placed in him and reiterated his dedication to serving them. “You trusted me and brought me to this position. Had you not urged me to contest elections, I would not have been here today. I would have transformed Ganderbal,” he said, reaffirming his resolve to continue championing the cause of the people and fighting for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s dignity and constitutional rights.