Omar Abdullah's Fading Hopes for Jammu and Kashmir Statehood

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday voiced diminishing hopes for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood, stating that the longer the issue remains unresolved, the less optimistic he feels. Abdullah, speaking to reporters, refrained from discussing potential actions if statehood is not reinstated, emphasizing ongoing wait-and-see approach.

Abdullah criticized the impediments within Union Territory governance, underscoring the need for elected governmental control over various institutions. The Chief Minister expressed his desire for assembly discussions on statehood, lamenting restrictions introduced by the Speaker. He questioned the BJP MLAs' understanding of the issue, highlighting delayed business rules' approval by the Centre.

The Chief Minister also addressed other topics, including internal political challenges during the Budgam bypolls, the unjustified application of the Public Safety Act on AAP MLA Mehraj Malik, and criticized BJP for perceived religious biases. Abdullah showed respect for advice from veteran party colleagues, notably differentiating between Mian Altaf Ahmad's constructive feedback and Ruhullah's criticism.