Now Reading: Omar Abdullah says he lost political capital over J-K statehood delay
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Omar Abdullah says he lost political capital over J-K statehood delay
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Saturday he has lost "huge political capital" due to the central government's delay in restoring statehood to the region. In an interview with…
The Story in Brief
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Saturday he has lost "huge political capital" due to the central government's delay in restoring statehood to the region. In an interview with journalist Karan Thapar for The Wire, Abdullah expressed frustration that the promise of statehood, which he termed "Modi Ka Wada," remains unfulfilled despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal backing.
Abdullah criticised the Centre's "undefined timeline" for restoring statehood, comparing the process to a marathon where the finish line keeps shifting. He rejected the argument that statehood cannot be restored until terrorism is eradicated, noting his elected government has no control over security apparatus. Abdullah called the current Union Territory with Assembly arrangement an "abomination," pointing out his cabinet lacks authority to appoint key officials.
The Indian Opinion
The narrative that the Centre alone is responsible for Jammu and Kashmir's statehood delay misses the full picture. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's admission that he has lost political capital shows local administrations also face consequences. The 'Modi Ka Wada' framing by Abdullah conveniently shifts blame entirely to the Centre, but governance challenges like militancy are shared responsibilities. A more honest debate would acknowledge that both sides, the Union government for not setting timelines, and local parties for overpromising, have contributed to public frustration. The real test will come when the next Assembly session debates specific legislative proposals for restoring statehood.
Source: greaterkashmir.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
