“If We Need to Struggle a Bit for Statehood, We Will”: Omar Abdullah

With hopes for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood during the Monsoon Session fading, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said the demand would now be pursued with renewed determination.

“Leave it now, the hope has gone, the water has crossed over. We will start our process from here,” he said, expressing clear disappointment over the Centre’s inaction on promises made to the people. “If we need to struggle and work harder, then that is what we will do,” he added.

Abdullah made these remarks while attending the 56th Raising Day celebrations of Sainik School Nagrota, where he also inaugurated the Triveni Girls Hostel.

During his address, the National Conference leader also launched a sharp criticism at the Centre over what he described as the selective targeting of opposition leaders through three newly proposed bills concerning the Prime Minister, chief ministers, and ministers. “So far, in all cases registered and arrests made, only opposition members have been targeted. If this step is genuinely to end corruption, then what impact has the government’s work since 2014 achieved?” he questioned.

Clarifying his stance, Abdullah said he does not see laws themselves as harmful, but warned against their misuse. “I want to remind my friends in the BJP — they will not remain in power forever. The very laws they are misusing today could tomorrow be used against their own people. Playing with the law will not benefit the country,” he cautioned.

He added that the matter is now before a parliamentary committee, and the National Conference would wait for its recommendations.

On the recent dismissal of two government employees over alleged terror links, Abdullah distanced his government from the move, stating, “This is something you will have to ask the Raj Bhavan about — we have no role in it.”

He also spoke about relief measures following a cloudburst in the region, assuring that, “For now, we are providing as much relief as we can. If, after assessment, more relief is required, we will provide that as well.”

By reaffirming his commitment to restoring statehood and warning against the politicization of law, Omar Abdullah positioned himself as a strong advocate for Jammu and Kashmir’s democratic rights and a consistent critic of the Centre’s current approach.