Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed hope that the region will soon regain its statehood. In a recent interview, he said that the time has come for this important change.
Abdullah mentioned that he discussed the issue of statehood with Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a meeting earlier this week. He pointed out that the Supreme Court had previously stated that statehood should be restored “as soon as possible” after the government removed Article 370 in 2019. This change took away Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and turned it into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
He said, “It was discussed as soon as possible and that was over a year ago. We feel that time has arrived now.” Abdullah described his conversation with the home minister as positive and is hopeful that statehood will be restored soon.
The chief minister also talked about recent violent incidents in the region, including the deaths of two people in Sopore and Billawar. He noted that such events could push people away from the government, which is crucial for bringing normalcy back to the area. Abdullah called for thorough investigations into these incidents and stressed the importance of holding those responsible accountable.
While he acknowledged that security is not directly managed by the elected government, he emphasized that everyone has a role in preventing violence. “It’s our collective duty and it should be our aim that such incidents don’t happen,” he said.
When asked about criticism from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Abdullah dismissed their comments as reactions to their recent election losses, saying he doesn’t expect them to praise his government. Reflecting on his time in office, he noted, “People voted for us for five years, so let us do our work.”
Abdullah also mentioned the difficulties of governing Jammu and Kashmir, saying it has always been a challenging task. He humorously noted that he is more worried about the heat from the weather than any political pressure, especially with concerns about possible water shortages in the coming summer due to rising temperatures.
He called for immediate action to prepare for these shortages and planned to meet with relevant departments to address the issue. “I pray it rains or snows in the coming days,” he added, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
As Abdullah continues to lead Jammu and Kashmir, his focus remains on restoring statehood and ensuring the well-being of the people in the region.
