Omar Abdullah announces 'new method' for J&K statehood, questions 'Do we have to go to Trump?'

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced a shift in strategy to press for the restoration of statehood, stating that a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi starting July 20 will mark the beginning of a 'new method'. Speaking at a rally in Jammu on Sunday, Abdullah said the National Conference (NC) had given the central government 'enough time' to fulfill its promise of restoring statehood to the erstwhile state.

'We pursued the restoration of statehood for nearly two years, giving enough time to the Central government to fulfill its promise made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,' Abdullah told the gathering at Maharaja Hari Singh Park. 'Now, we will start resorting to a new method for it from July 20 onwards, when we raise slogans for restoration of statehood at our dharna in Delhi.'

The Chief Minister targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for what he described as undermining his government's efforts. In a pointed remark, he asked, 'Let BJP tell us whether we have to go to (US President Donald) Trump for statehood… and hold dharna outside the White House.' He added that until then, the party would 'hold demonstrations and knock on the doors in our own national capital seeking J&K statehood.'

The protest is scheduled to coincide with the first day of Parliament's Monsoon session. It will be the first such demonstration led by the ruling party in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2024 Assembly elections, which brought the NC to power in the Union Territory.

Political analysts and former officials offered alternative interpretations. K B Jandial, former member of the J&K Public Service Commission, and Prof. Hari Om, former head of the History Department at Jammu University, suggested that the rallies and dharnas might be a response to opposition criticism that the NC has failed to deliver on employment and development, rather than a direct confrontation with the Centre.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti accused the NC of abandoning its 2024 poll promise on statehood to maintain a cordial relationship with the Centre.

On Saturday, Abdullah highlighted what he called a disparity in the Centre's approach, noting that while the government engages with Ladakh on demands for greater democratic participation, including protections under Article 371, similar concessions are not extended to Jammu and Kashmir. 'The way the Centre is engaging with Ladakh, why not with us?' he asked, pointing out that the J&K government is not permitted to appoint its own officers, while Ladakh has been offered concessions because it 'chose the path of protest.'

Abdullah reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had 'time to time promised' on various platforms, including Parliament, to restore J&K's statehood at an 'appropriate time.' He accused the BJP of using the promise as a 'bait' rather than fulfilling a constitutional commitment. He referenced a three-stage process announced by Shah during delimitation—delimitation, assembly elections, and then statehood—and noted that the Supreme Court has also called for the restoration of statehood.