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National Conference's Stance on Statehood Restoration

On Saturday, the leader of the National Conference, Farooq Abdullah, announced that the party would approach the Supreme Court if there is a significant delay in restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. This statement follows a recent party meeting.

Abdullah emphasized that the residents of the Union Territory are eager for their issues to be addressed promptly after the upcoming Assembly elections in October, but the lack of restored statehood is hindering progress.

According to reports, Abdullah stated, “We are awaiting statehood. If there are delays, we will have no choice but to seek intervention from the Supreme Court. I remain optimistic that the restoration of statehood will grant us additional powers.”

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government revoked Article 370, which previously granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, in August 2019, subsequently dividing the region into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

In December 2023, the Supreme Court affirmed the legality of the 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370 and instructed the government to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

On November 6, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly passed a resolution advocating for the reinstatement of the special status that was lost due to the 2019 abrogation.

This resolution highlighted the significance of the special status and the constitutional protections that preserved the identity, culture, and rights of the people in Jammu and Kashmir, expressing concern over their removal.

Members of the Legislative Assembly also called on the central government to engage in discussions with elected representatives from the Union Territory to establish constitutional frameworks for restoring the special status and guarantees.

In January, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his desire to allow the central government the first chance to restore statehood before pursuing legal options.

Abdullah remarked that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had previously committed to restoring Jammu and Kashmir's statehood. He noted, “Every government or individual has the option to seek judicial recourse, but that was never our primary choice.”

He further stated, “The central government’s most significant promise to Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the elections was the restoration of statehood. The Supreme Court indicated that statehood should be reinstated ‘as soon as possible’. A year has passed, and we believe that is sufficient time.”

Farooq Abdullah's comments came shortly after the Chief Minister reiterated the demand for statehood, indicating he is still waiting for the Prime Minister to honor his commitment.