Getting back J&K statehood will be tough, says Omar Abdullah

Srinagar, July 14

Two days after the Central Government handed over more powers to the Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant-Governor ahead of the upcoming Assembly election, National Conference vice president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday said a “strong government” in Jammu and Kashmir “with a solid mandate” is the only answer to the order.

Omar said while the L-G of Delhi is often challenged by the elected government there, the amendments in J&K government business rules have left little scope for such a challenge to the powers of the L-G by the elected government. He said on X: “While the Delhi L-G often finds his authority challenged by the elected government, the MHA’s clear delineation of the LG’s powers in J&K stands in stark contrast, showcasing a deliberate effort to centralise authority and streamline decision-making in the UT.”

He has also appealed to people of Jammu region, seen as a political bastion of BJP, to vote against the BJP-led NDA government as he said that the BJP intends to “disempower the people of J&K.”

In another post, Omar said: “The people of J&K, especially Jammu, will have to vote against the nefarious intentions of the BJP-led NDA government which wants to disempower the people of J&K.”