CM Omar Abdullah Meets PM Modi As Statehood Debate Gains Momentum

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Thursday and discussed several key issues concerning the Union Territory, including the early restoration of statehood, economic conditions and the pace of development.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office, CM Abdullah highlighted the need for continued support from the Government of India to accelerate economic growth, improve connectivity, generate employment opportunities, expand infrastructure and enhance public welfare across Jammu and Kashmir. He also congratulated the Prime Minister on completing 12 uninterrupted years in office.

The meeting comes amid renewed political focus on the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.

CM Omar Abdullah recently attended a meeting of the INDIA bloc in New Delhi, of which the National Conference (NC) is one of the 35 constituent parties.

Earlier, a seven-hour meeting of senior NC leaders and legislators, chaired by CM Abdullah, decided that the party’s legislature wing would stage a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session.

The protest seeks the restoration of statehood and other constitutional guarantees for Jammu and Kashmir.

Opposition Parties Back Protest

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, has also announced that its legislators will participate in the protest.

National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has said he will join the Jantar Mantar demonstration, but maintained that the demand should extend to the restoration of Article 370.

Ruhullah has recently been at odds with the party leadership after publicly stating that the NC was doing little to fulfil promises made in its 2024 election manifesto.

Following those remarks, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has reportedly not been invited to party meetings. He was also absent from the June 3 meeting held at Dachigam National Park, where the National Conference leadership decided to organise the protest in Delhi.

The developments underscore the growing political focus on Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional status ahead of the upcoming Parliament session.

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