Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. File
| Photo Credit: Imran Nissar
Most of Jammu and Kashmir’s problems will be resolved with the restoration of Statehood, said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday, the first anniversary of the National Conference (NC)-led government in the Union Territory.“We were given a three-step road map to Statehood. Delimitation will be followed by elections and then Statehood. I appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfil the promise made to the people of J&K in Parliament and before the Supreme Court. Most of J&K’s problems will be resolved with Statehood status,” Mr. Abdullah said while addressing mediapersons in Jammu.The Chief Minister also ruled out any government formation with the BJP to restore Statehood.“If Statehood is not restored because the BJP is not in power in J&K, then we have to do without Statehood for the next four years,” he said.Mr. Abdullah also defended the slow pace in fulfilling the promises made in the poll manifesto. “My government should be judged at the end of the term. We have been addressing the issues of people since we took over. The issue of daily wagers remains a top priority.”‘Darbar Move cleared’He also announced the resumption of the Darbar Move, an annual practice of shifting capitals between Srinagar and Jammu introduced in 1872 by Maharaja Gulab Singh, which was discontinued by the Lieutenant-Governor’s administration in 2021.“The Cabinet has already cleared the proposal for the Darbar Move. The file was forwarded to Lieutenant-Governor [Manoj Sinha], who has given approval. The practice will resume shortly,” he said.On the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, Mr. Abdullah said NC president Farooq Abdullah reached out to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has three members in the Assembly. “Dr. Abdullah sought the PDP’s support to fight against BJP in the RS elections. If the vote is not casted in our favour, then it will benefit the BJP and abstaining from it is also akin to supporting BJP,” Mr. Abdullah said. He also criticised J&K Peoples Conference president and MLA Sajad Lone for deciding to abstain from voting.Also Read | Restoration of J&K statehood is ‘solemn promise’ we have made, will stand by it: PM ModiHowever, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said she would extend support if the Bills introduced by the Opposition are passed. “The PDP has introduced several important Bills in both previous and current Assembly sessions. Pass our Bills and we will extend support in the Rajya Sabha elections. These include proposals to regularise poor families that have lived on small plots of land for over 30 years, and daily wage workers who have served for 20–25 years in several departments,” Ms. Mufti said.On the completion of one year of the NC-led government in J&K, Ms. Mufti accused it of “maintaining silence on critical political matters”. “The silence on crucial political issues is troubling. One year into NC’s tenure, the ground reality is far from what was expected. Despite the rhetoric of change and justice during the election campaign, the decisions perceived as anti-people and abnormal have not only persisted but have been normalised,” Ms. Mufti said.She said instead of reversing or challenging the measures that hurt public confidence, the present government has “formalised what was already happening under the bureaucratic regime”. “From the dismissal of government employees to random arrests and the closure of Jamaat-e-Islami schools, nothing has changed,” Ms. Mufti said. Published - October 16, 2025 04:52 pm IST
