14 July 2024: Srinagar: Omar Abdullah, former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir and Vice President of the National Conference, has called for the restoration of full statehood to Jammu & Kashmir as a necessary condition for the forthcoming Assembly elections. This demand comes in response to the recent amendments to the transaction of business rules announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs, which transferred control of prosecution, prisons, law, and parliamentary affairs to the executive authority of the Lt Governor.
Abdullah views this amendment as a move to weaken the authority of an elected government, making it a mere “rubber stamp.” In a statement, he emphasized that a genuine commitment to restoring full statehood is crucial before any elections can be considered legitimate. He warned that without this restoration, the Chief Minister would lack real power and autonomy, rendering the position ineffective.
“The people of J&K deserve better than a powerless, rubber stamp CM who will have to beg the LG to get his/her peon appointed,” Abdullah asserted. He stressed that the amendments signal that elections are imminent, yet without the restoration of statehood, they would be fundamentally flawed.
Criticizing the central government, Abdullah stated, “If you have to bow down in front of these powers, who are attacking you, then don’t do the election,” as reported by The Hindu. This statement underscores his strong opposition to the perceived undermining of J&K’s political autonomy and his insistence on substantial political reforms before the elections.
This call for statehood restoration echoes the sentiments of many in Jammu & Kashmir who feel that the reorganization of the region into a Union Territory in 2019 has diminished their autonomy and political representation. Abdullah’s stance adds significant weight to the ongoing debate about the future governance of Jammu & Kashmir and the conditions under which the region’s democratic processes can be restored and respected.
