Omar Abdullah says this is no time to raise statehood demand

At a special session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday, Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah struck a markedly different tone on the question of statehood. Addressing the House after the Pahalgam terrorist attack that left 26 people dead, Abdullah refrained from pressing for the restoration of full statehood — a core demand of his party’s 2024 election manifesto — acknowledging that it would be inappropriate to raise political demands in the wake of such a tragedy. His remarks earned rare praise from Opposition leaders, who lauded his restraint.

Speaking as the Assembly passed a resolution condemning the attack, Abdullah stated, “With what face will I ask for statehood for Jammu and Kashmir? It would be shameful on my part if I went to the Centre now and said, 26 people have died, so give us statehood.” He further announced that the National Conference would raise the issue of statehood “on any other day, but not today”, signalling an implicit acceptance that the Centre remains unmoved by political appeals while security challenges persist. The resolution acknowledged that there was “sinister design in selective targeting of victims” — the terrorists asked for the names of tourists to make sure that those they killed were non-Muslims.

Abdullah’s stance sharply contrasted with several Opposition voices who were quick to criticise the Centre over security lapses. Yet his speech reflected a growing realisation: that the demand for statehood cannot move forward until the Centre feels it has decisively neutralised the persistent threat of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism across the volatile borders of Jammu and Kashmir.

During his address, Abdullah also acknowledged the broader national impact of the Pahalgam attack, describing it as the deadliest assault in the region in over two decades. Overwhelmed with emotion, he said, “I did not know how to apologise to the families of the deceased. As hosts, it was our duty to send tourists back safely. We failed.” He added that in his 26 years in public life, he had never before seen ordinary citizens come out spontaneously to protest against terrorism, indicating a possible shift in public sentiment against militancy.

Meanwhile, members like CPM leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami expressed frustration over the absence of senior security officials from the Assembly session. Tarigami criticised the lack of accountability, questioning, “You called the House, but not those who control the security apparatus of Jammu and Kashmir.” He also lamented the role of sections of the media, accusing them of distracting public attention from real security concerns by inflaming religious sentiments. “The real danger is to the common citizens living in India. We, the people of Jammu and Kashmir, are in danger,” Tarigami argued.

The debate inside the Assembly reflected a broader political truth: for now, security imperatives have eclipsed political demands. In the aftermath of a brutal attack, Omar Abdullah — long an advocate for the restoration of Article 370 and full statehood — appears to have recognised that until the situation stabilises and cross-border threats are curbed, the Centre is unlikely to entertain any talk of political concessions.

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