Omar Abdullah: NC will not support NDA bills; asks other opposition MPs to follow conscience

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday stated that the National Conference (NC) would not extend support to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government on pending legislation in Parliament, and suggested that other opposition MPs, such as those from the DMK and Shiv Sena, should be guided by their conscience while deciding on the matter.

His remarks came amid speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Shiv Sena were considering backing the NDA on key legislations, including the proposed women’s reservation bill. “I cannot predict from a distance what will happen. It is up to the conscience of these MPs how far they want to go. Our party will not support them,” Abdullah, who also holds the portfolio of J&K Home Minister, told reporters here.

He reiterated the NC’s ideological steadfastness, asserting that the party’s principles were “not for sale” and that it would not alter its political stand for short-term gains. “We remain committed to our political ideology and will not alter our stand for the sake of power. Every party is free to make its own decisions, but the NC’s position is clear. We are guided by a set of values. Those principles are not for sale,” he said.

Abdullah further emphasised that his party’s priority was to fulfil the commitments made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, rather than seeking political advantage through shifting alliances. This statement comes at a time when regional parties are positioning themselves ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament, where several contentious bills are expected to be taken up.

In a separate development, senior National Conference leader and Member of Parliament Mian Altaf reaffirmed that the party would stage a protest in New Delhi on the inaugural day of the monsoon session to press for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. “It [the protest] will be held at the scheduled time. It is our duty,” Altaf said, indicating that the NC continues to push for its long-standing demand, which has been a central issue since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

The BJP, meanwhile, launched a sharp attack on regional parties, with Sunil Sharma, the Leader of Opposition in the J&K Legislative Assembly, blaming them for the “bloodshed” witnessed in the Kashmir Valley over the past 35 years. “J&K saw bloodshed, bullets and burning of schools when regional parties functioned under Statehood. They used the Public Safety Act and other stringent laws to suppress people. The bloodshed ended after J&K was made a Union Territory and the Ministry of Home Affairs took control of law and order,” Sharma alleged in Srinagar.

He also invoked the return of Kashmiri Pandits, describing them as the “identity of Kashmir,” and credited the Narendra Modi government with creating an environment conducive for their rehabilitation. “The Narendra Modi government has created an environment where displaced Kashmiri Pandits can return and claim their property,” he said.

The exchange highlights the enduring political polarisation in Jammu and Kashmir, with regional parties accusing the Centre of eroding the region’s autonomy, while the BJP maintains that its policies have restored peace. The National Conference, along with other regional players, continues to demand statehood restoration, a commitment the central government had reportedly made following the reorganisation of the state.

Political analysts view Abdullah’s statement as a strategic signal to both allies and opponents, reinforcing the NC’s independent stance at a time when coalition dynamics are fluid. With the monsoon session looming, all eyes will be on how opposition parties coalesce on key legislation, and whether the NC’s protest garners broader support.