New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday renewed his demand for the restoration of statehood to the Union Territory during a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
The meeting comes amid increasing political activity by Abdullah and his party, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, aimed at pressing the Centre to fulfil its commitment to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
Following the meeting, Abdullah said he discussed several issues of importance to the region, including the early return of statehood, economic development, infrastructure growth and tourism promotion. He also congratulated the Prime Minister on completing 12 years in office.
In a post on social media, Abdullah said he had urged the Centre to address key concerns facing Jammu and Kashmir and emphasised the need for continued cooperation between the Union Territory administration and the central government.
According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, Abdullah highlighted the importance of sustained support from New Delhi to accelerate economic growth, improve connectivity, create employment opportunities and strengthen public welfare initiatives across the region.
The meeting assumes significance as Abdullah has intensified his campaign for statehood restoration in recent weeks. Earlier this week, he attended a meeting of the INDIA bloc in New Delhi and appealed to opposition leaders to support the National Conference’s proposed protest on the issue.
The party has announced that all its MLAs and MPs will stage a demonstration at the start of Parliament’s upcoming Monsoon Session, demanding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. Abdullah has also said he will personally write to INDIA bloc leaders seeking their participation in the protest.
The renewed push comes amid criticism from some quarters that the National Conference government has not been assertive enough in pursuing the statehood demand since assuming office.
Last week, Abdullah held a strategy session with party legislators, ministers and MPs at Dachigam National Park near Srinagar to discuss the party’s future course of action. The meeting focused largely on building momentum around the statehood issue, which has increasingly become central to the National Conference’s political agenda.
The Centre has repeatedly stated that statehood will be restored to Jammu and Kashmir at an appropriate time, though no specific timeline has yet been announced.
