“Time has arrived”: Omar Abdullah expresses hope for J&K’s statehood revival

Srinagar, 14-02-2025: Exuding renewed optimism over the long-standing demand for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah asserted on Thursday that “the time has come now” for the process to reach its logical conclusion.

Speaking in an exclusive interview, Abdullah confirmed that the issue of statehood was discussed during his recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. He expressed hope that the commitment made by the Centre would soon materialize, reminding that even the Supreme Court, while upholding the abrogation of Article 370, had stated that statehood should be restored at the earliest.

“The government had promised to reinstate statehood ‘as soon as possible,’ and it has been over a year since that assurance. We strongly believe that the time has arrived,” Abdullah remarked.

Referring to his discussions with Shah, he described their conversation as “very good” and part of an ongoing dialogue, expressing optimism about a positive outcome.

When asked if the gap between Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir had narrowed since he assumed office, Abdullah acknowledged that while progress had been made, recent incidents such as the killings in Sopore and Billawar risked reversing the gains.

“These incidents are unfortunate and could have been prevented. A transparent investigation is necessary to ensure accountability, and those responsible must face the law,” he said.

The tragic events in question include the alleged suicide of a 26-year-old man in Billawar following claims of police harassment and the killing of a truck driver in army firing at a checkpoint in Sopore.

“These incidents alienate the very people we need to bring along on the path to complete normalcy. While security is not directly under our elected government, it is still our collective responsibility to prevent such occurrences,” he asserted, revealing that these concerns had been an integral part of his discussions with the Home Minister.

Addressing criticism from the opposition, particularly the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Abdullah dismissed their remarks as a reaction to their electoral defeat.

“I don’t expect them to praise us. They are reacting to their recent loss, and I don’t pay much attention to such remarks,” he stated.

Reflecting on his tenure so far, which has now crossed 100 days, Abdullah maintained that governance in Jammu and Kashmir has always been challenging.

“No one voted us in for just 100 days—they elected us for five years. Jammu and Kashmir has never been easy to govern, whether from 2009 to 2015 or now. Every leader here has faced challenges,” he said, acknowledging the complexities of governing a Union Territory.

He also acknowledged that adapting to the Union Territory model has been a learning experience, not only for his administration but also for Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

In a lighter moment, when asked about pressure from the Centre, Abdullah humorously redirected the concern to the scorching weather, which he believes poses a far greater challenge than political heat.

“There’s too much heat—not from Delhi, the Lieutenant Governor, or any official, but from the weather itself. This unseasonal warmth is deeply concerning. If it continues, we are looking at a severe water shortage in the summer, and that will be our biggest problem,” he warned.

He revealed that he had already convened a meeting with the concerned departments to prepare for the impending crisis and prayed for much-needed rain or snowfall in the coming days.

“I genuinely hope it rains or snows soon, but right now, it feels like March or April in mid-February. I fear this heat will directly impact us,” he added.

With statehood restoration gaining renewed attention, Abdullah’s remarks signal a growing urgency to address both political and administrative challenges facing Jammu and Kashmir.