Omar Abdullah Rejects External Influence on Governance, Clarifies ‘Vande Mataram’ Anniversary Decision

• No Outside Interference in J&K Affairs, Says CM After Row Over School Commemorations

Budgam, November 7: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah clarified on Friday that his government had not authorized any decision to mark the 150th anniversary of “Vande Mataram” in schools across the Union Territory, emphasizing that such matters should be determined locally without outside interference or political pressure. Speaking to reporters in Budgam, Abdullah stated that the order issued by the Department of Culture did not have the cabinet’s approval and was not endorsed by the Education Minister. “This decision has not been made by the cabinet, nor has the education minister signed off on it. We should decide what happens in our schools ourselves, without outside dictation on these matters,” the Chief Minister said.

The controversy began on October 30 when the Culture Department directed schools in Jammu and Kashmir to commemorate the 150th anniversary of “Vande Mataram.” The directive was met with strong opposition from the Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), a coalition of various religious organizations, which demanded the immediate withdrawal of the order. The MMU argued that portions of the song conflicted with Islamic beliefs about monotheism and described the circular as coercive.

Abdullah’s remarks came while campaigning in Budgam ahead of the November 11 by-election for the constituency. Addressing queries about the absence of party MP Ruhullah Mehdi, who has represented the area multiple times and remains an influential figure in the Shia community, Abdullah said that the National Conference does not compel any member to campaign. “Those who wish to campaign do so voluntarily, and those who do not want to will not. That is perfectly fine. I never force anyone to campaign. However, when we succeed, those who chose not to support us cannot expect to share in our celebrations,” Abdullah remarked.

Ruhullah Mehdi, who has been publicly critical of both the government and his party’s leadership in recent months, has largely distanced himself from the campaign trail. His absence, however, did not appear to deter Abdullah, who expressed full confidence in his party’s prospects in the upcoming polls. “We feel that the situation is in our favour in both Budgam and Nagrota. The response from the people has been encouraging, but we must continue to work hard in the remaining days to reach out to every voter and remind them why the National Conference remains the people’s choice,” he said.

Abdullah, who had previously vacated the Budgam seat after winning from Ganderbal, explained that contesting from two constituencies had never been his preference. “I had told my colleagues that I would not contest from two seats, but this is not the right time to reveal the entire background. One day, I will share everything openly,” he added, hinting at internal political considerations behind the move.

The Chief Minister also reiterated his commitment to protecting Jammu and Kashmir’s administrative and cultural autonomy. “We do not need anyone from outside to dictate what our children should celebrate or how our institutions should function. Governance in Jammu and Kashmir should remain free from external interference,” Abdullah said, underscoring the importance of preserving the Union Territory’s decision-making independence.