PTI
SRINAGAR, July 20: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday made a strong pitch for the immediate restoration of statehood to the Union Territory, describing it as the fundamental right of its people.
Addressing a gathering in Srinagar, nearly ten months after the National Conference returned to power, Abdullah reiterated his party’s firm commitment to securing full statehood. He emphasized that the Centre must honour its promise, both in Parliament and before the Supreme Court.
“The restoration of statehood is not a favour—it’s our right,” Abdullah asserted. “The Centre made this commitment on the floor of the Parliament and reaffirmed it before the highest court. We are now demanding that promise be fulfilled without further delay.”
The Chief Minister also ruled out any consideration of a so-called ‘hybrid system’ of governance, calling it an unacceptable compromise. He indicated that the National Conference was exploring all possible avenues, including legal remedies, to ensure the demand for statehood is met.
Abdullah’s remarks underscore the growing urgency within the region’s political landscape for the reinstatement of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, a demand that continues to resonate deeply with its people.
