- NC government pro-Jammu, pro-people, says CM Omar Abdullah
JAMMU, Jan 20: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice President and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday asserted that the unity of Jammu and Kashmir is non-negotiable and warned that any attempt to divide the region on regional or religious lines is against the interests of Jammu as well as the larger idea of the Union Territory.
Addressing the concluding session of the two-day Party Block Presidents’ Convention here, Omar Abdullah said that as long as the plough-bearing flag of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference continues to fly across Jammu and Kashmir, no power on earth will dare to fragment the region. The convention, which began a day earlier, was chaired by Party President Farooq Abdullah.
Highlighting the achievements of his government, Omar Abdullah said the NC-led administration has taken several pro-people and pro-Jammu measures aimed at restoring confidence and accelerating development. He cited increased ration quotas, free bus travel for women, enhanced pension benefits, free land for landslide-affected families, and the revival of the historic Darbar Move as clear indicators of the government’s commitment to inclusive governance. He added that focused initiatives in tourism, road infrastructure, healthcare, education, and recruitment are steadily putting Jammu back on the path of progress.
Taking a sharp swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party, Omar Abdullah said leaders who halted the Darbar Move or celebrated the closure of a medical college cannot claim to be champions of Jammu’s interests. He warned that narrow and divisive politics has harmed the region in the past and will continue to do so if left unchecked. “This is something the National Conference government will never allow,” he asserted.
Reiterating his party’s stand against bifurcation, Omar Abdullah said that talk of dividing Jammu and Kashmir is driven by personal ambition rather than public interest. Targeting Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, he said the demand for bifurcation is nothing but a power play. “If he wants to be Chief Minister, why only Jammu and not the whole of J&K? And if ambition drives him so much, he should contest municipal elections in Jammu,” Omar remarked.
He further said that dreams of political dominance based on divisive agendas will not find support beyond limited pockets. “The people of Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal will never endorse politics that seeks to divide them. Such wishful and dangerous thinking will only damage Jammu’s interests, which the National Conference remains committed to protecting,” he said.
Omar Abdullah also reaffirmed the party’s steadfast commitment to secularism. He said that despite being a Muslim-majority region, the people of Jammu and Kashmir consciously chose to align with a secular India and have remained resolute despite persistent propaganda from across the border. “This secular character is our strength and our identity, and the National Conference has always stood guard over it,” he added.
The convention saw wide-ranging deliberations on improving quality of life, strengthening social justice, and reaffirming the National Conference’s historic role in shaping a peaceful, democratic, and secure future for Jammu and Kashmir. Senior leaders recalled the party’s long legacy of sacrifices in defence of democracy, secular values, and human rights, while several party workers stressed the need for stronger organisational cohesion and grassroots empowerment.
Among those present were Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Ministers Sakina Itoo, Javed Ahmad Rana, Javid Ahmad Dar and Satish Sharma, MPs Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan and Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, Additional General Secretary Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Provincial President Rattan Lal Gupta, several MLAs, senior office-bearers, and advisors.
The convention concluded with a firm resolve to continue working tirelessly for the welfare of the people and towards the establishment of a democratic, secular, and just society in Jammu and Kashmir. A detailed report of the deliberations and recommendations will be submitted to Party President Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.