Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday called for action on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s repeated pledge to restore the region’s statehood, stating that a commitment from the country’s highest elected leader should carry weight.
Addressing a public rally in Jammu, Abdullah referenced Modi’s remarks in Katra, where the prime minister described the promise as “Modi’s promise,” not an ordinary one. “If the PM makes a promise, it should carry some weight, and there should be some action on it,” Abdullah said.
National Conference Rallies for Statehood Restoration
The rally was the second major public event by the ruling National Conference (NC) ahead of its planned July 20 protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. The party demands the restoration of J&K’s statehood and constitutional guarantees. Abdullah had addressed a similar gathering in Srinagar the previous day.
He criticized the Centre’s repeated response that statehood would be restored “at the appropriate time,” emphasizing that the issue transcends party lines. “The restoration of statehood is not the cause of any one party; it is the cause of every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, urging all political parties to join the July 20 demonstration.
Political Reactions and Allegations
Abdullah also responded to BJP accusations of attempting to buy NC legislators, alleging the party had a history of destabilizing opposition governments. He cited examples in Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Punjab, referencing the BJP’s “Operation Lotus.”
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary echoed the demand, stating that statehood was essential for addressing employment and governance issues in J&K. The region was reorganized into a Union Territory in 2019 after the abrogation of Article 370.
Broader Support for the Protest
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has extended support for the July 20 protest, calling the 2019 decision to revoke Article 370 an “unprecedented assault” on the rights of J&K’s people. CPI(M) State Secretary Abass Rather urged all parties to unite for the cause, warning that further delays would deepen discontent.
The NC’s sit-in at Jantar Mantar coincides with the first day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session. The party has previously raised the statehood demand in meetings with Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
