Omar Abdullah questions Centre over delay, raises concerns on promise of statehood.
May 6, 2026: Omar Abdullah has strongly criticised the delay in restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, calling it “deeply unfair” to its people. He questioned whether the delay was linked to the fact that the Bharatiya Janata Party did not form the government in the region, suggesting that such a stance should have been clearly stated if it were the case.
Highlighting that nearly 20 months have passed since his government came to power, Abdullah said the Centre’s promise of restoring statehood “at an appropriate time” remains vague and unexplained. He pointed out that key steps outlined earlier—such as delimitation and elections—have already been completed, yet there is no clarity on when statehood will be granted.
Referring to the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, Abdullah reiterated that engaging with the current central government on the issue may not be productive. However, he maintained that his party, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, remains committed to its core principles while continuing to push for statehood.
He also cited the Supreme Court of India observation that statehood should be restored “at the earliest,” arguing that the lack of a defined timeline has only added to uncertainty. The Chief Minister said all options remain open, including potential legal recourse, as the demand for statehood continues to gain momentum.