PM Modi’s statehood promise should carry weight: Omar Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. | Photo credit:-

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s repeated promise to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday (July 12, 2026) said the pledge made by the country’s top elected leader should carry weight.

“In (Jammu’s) Katra, the Prime Minister talked about the restoration of J&K statehood with the words that ‘it is not an ordinary promise, but a Modi promise’. If the Prime Minister promises something, it should have some weight and it should be some action,” Mr Abdullah said at a public rally in J&K’s winter capital Jammu.

This was the second major public gathering of the ruling National Conference (NC) ahead of its proposed protest on July 20 at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to demand the restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees. On Saturday (July 11), Mr. Abdullah addressed a similar rally in J&K’s summer capital of Srinagar.

He said, “Whenever the people of Jammu and Kashmir seek to fulfill a promise, we are told that it will happen ‘at an appropriate time’. Restoring statehood is not the cause of any party, it is the cause of every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir. That is why we have invited all political parties and leaders to join us on July 20,” Mr Ablah said our future elections are still years away, Mr Abdul said it is time to stand up.

Referring to the Centre’s reach for Ladakh with guarantees under Article 371, Mr Abdullah said, “If dialogue and constitutional guarantees can be offered to those who choose to protest, why are the democratic aspirations of the people of J&K being denied? We are seeking nothing but restoration of our rightful statehood and authority to rule through the mandate given to us by the people.”

Reacting to BJP’s scathing attack after allegations that the party offered ₹20-30 crore to buy NC legislators, Mr. Abdullah said, “They (BJP) never get tired of planning and crashing parties. In Maharashtra, look at the parties of Sharad Pawar and Udddhava you did in Mamajee’Uddshav’s party. Bengal and Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab Yourself you brag about running Operation Lotus.

He claimed, “If the BJP is unable to enter government through the ‘front door’, it is trying to rule through the ‘back door’.

Responding to some BJP leaders who said demonstrations like the one planned at Jantar Mantar would not lead to restoration of statehood, Mr Abdullah sarcastically said: “On July 20, we will go to Delhi to demand statehood. Do we have to go to the White House and meet Trump to demand statehood?” said Mr. Abdullah.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary said restoration of statehood is a must to ensure good days for J&K and added, “Give us back statehood so that we can address employment issues. This is the voice of the people of J&K.”

Jammu and Kashmir was reorganized as a Union Territory in 2019 when the Center ended its seven decades of special status under Article 370. The NC came to power in 2024 and after taking over as Chief Minister, Mr Abdullah met Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and pushed for statehood.

The National Conference has announced a session at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on July 20, the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament.

The CPI(M) supports the sit-in

Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) supported the July 20 protest.

“The decision of August 5, 2019 to abrogate Articles 370 and 35-A was taken without any consultation with the stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir and remains an unprecedented attack on people’s rights. It was not an attack on one party or one region alone, but an attack that touched every community across the caste and caste (CPIM) Rather.

Mr. Rather appealed to every political party, organization and citizen, regardless of ideology or affiliation, to put aside differences and join this common cause on July 20.

“It is in the larger interest of the constitutional order of the country. Any further delays in this regard will further deepen the widespread discontent and disenchantment of the people,” he added.

Published – 12 Jul 2026 16:56 IST