J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday (February 5, 2026) reiterated the National Conference’s (NC) stand on the restoration of special status to J&K in the Assembly and pleaded that the model of Union Territory (UT) with Assembly “should be done away with” from the Constitution. He also called for re-opening of closed tourist destinations in Kashmir.
“It’s very hard to work as CM of a UT with Assembly. I appeal to the Prime Minister to as a gift to this nation abolish this system from the Constitution. Either it should be a State or a UT without Assembly. It’s like tying the hand of government from behind and is a fraud with the mandate of people,” said Mr. Abdullah, while speaking inside the J&K Assembly’s Budget session.
He claimed that the J&K budget preparations were made difficult for the elected government when J&K Finance Secretary was transferred to Delhi “in the middle of the process”.
“I came to know about the transfer of my Finance Secretary on social media,” Mr. Abdullah said.
The J&K Chief Minister said the Transaction of Business Rules, required for newly formed UT of J&K, were still in the process. “I am hopeful to have it (the rules) soon. It’s not simple. It’s complicated,” Mr. Abdullah said.
