Omar Abdullah Reacts to PM Modi’s Comments on Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Polls and Statehood Restoration

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks regarding the timing of assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting the Supreme Court’s directive that these elections must be conducted before September 30. Abdullah emphasized that this timeline is now a legal obligation for the Centre to fulfill.

During a press interaction, Omar Abdullah expressed that while it would have been preferable for the Centre to have conducted the assembly polls earlier, given the Supreme Court’s ruling, it is now mandatory for them to adhere to the prescribed timeline. He reiterated that the Supreme Court’s verdict mandates the conduct of elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30.

Responding to PM Modi’s assurance of reinstating statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah questioned the rationale behind the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, which led to the bifurcation of the region into two Union Territories (UTs) in August 2019. He emphasized that while the abrogation of Article 370 may have been part of the government’s manifesto, the removal of statehood remains a perplexing decision.

PM Modi, in a recent rally in Udhampur, reiterated the government’s commitment to restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and indicated that assembly polls would also be held soon. He assured the residents that they would regain their state status, allowing them to engage with their elected representatives and ministers.

Omar Abdullah, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Baramulla in Kashmir, noted the significance of the Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the abrogation of Article 370 while directing the Election Commission to conduct elections in Jammu and Kashmir before September 30, 2024.

The Lok Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled to take place in phases, with Udhampur going to polls on April 19, followed by Jammu on April 26, Anantnag-Rajouri on May 7, Srinagar on May 13, and Baramulla on May 20. These elections mark a critical juncture in the region’s political landscape, with discussions centered on the restoration of statehood and the conduct of assembly polls by legal mandates.