Omar Abdullah Demands Statehood, Constitutional Guarantees Ahead of Jantar Mantar Protest

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday intensified his call for the restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees for the region, just days before his party, the National Conference (NC), is set to hold a protest in New Delhi on July 20.

For the first time, NC president Farooq Abdullah will invite parties from the INDIA bloc and non-BJP aligned outfits such as the Aam Aadmi Party, Shiromani Akali Dal, Biju Janata Dal, and the Bahujan Samaj Party to join the demonstration, seeking broader political support.

The NC had earlier sought the backing of over 170 civil society bodies in Srinagar. “Everyone, without any exception, emphasised that it is too late to restore statehood. The Centre should not delay any longer,” Omar Abdullah stated. He noted that representatives from various sections of society—including religious leaders, traders, retired bureaucrats, educationists, and transporters—unanimously called for the restoration of statehood.

The chief minister said invitations would be sent to all political parties in Jammu and Kashmir that are currently represented in the Legislative Assembly, urging them to participate in the protest. The NC Legislature Party had unanimously decided in June to hold the protest on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, demanding statehood and constitutional guarantees.

The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was split into two Union territories in August 2019, when the central government revoked the region’s semi-autonomous status under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. Since then, leaders from various political parties in the region have repeatedly called for the restoration of statehood.

Separately, Omar Abdullah expressed concern over delays in police verification for job aspirants in Jammu and Kashmir. “It takes more time to fill posts than before. I don’t remember the CID playing such a significant role in appointments during our time as it does today. More time is spent on police verification and CID clearance. But it is not in our hands,” he said.