PoK would have sought reunion if Article 370 stayed: Omar Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Saturday that if Article 370 had not been revoked in 2019, people in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir would have protested to reunite with Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking at the main Independence Day function in Srinagar, he said the condition of PoK today made him realise the 1947 decision to accede to India was correct.

Omar paid tribute to National Conference founder Sheikh Abdullah and others who resisted the 1947 tribal invasion from Pakistan before the Indian Army arrived. The Times of India reports that Omar said thousands sacrificed their lives. Siasat.com quotes him saying restoring J&K's special status and statehood is vital for federalism. He argued that central agencies and exams like NEET and JEE have eroded state autonomy, linking this to recent public unrest.

Omar reiterated that India considers PoK residents its own and said seats remain reserved for them in the J&K assembly. He pledged his government would work to restore statehood, constitutional guarantees, and a new era of progress. The next steps depend on the Centre's response to these demands.