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Omar Abdullah Hints at Imminent Statehood for Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has stated that the process to restore full statehood to the Union Territory is underway, though it has taken more time than initially hoped. He expressed ongoing dialogue with the central government and optimism that the wait may soon be over. The demand for statehood has persisted since J&K was reorganized into a UT following the 2019 abrogation of Article 370. Separately, Abdullah chaired a meeting to review and ensure comprehensive arrangements for the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.

Key Points: Omar Abdullah on J&K Statehood: "Process Underway"

  • Statehood restoration process is ongoing
  • Discussions continue with central government
  • Delay longer than hoped
  • Review of Ramadan arrangements also conducted
2 min read

"Process underway, won't have to wait much longer": Omar Abdullah on statehood demand

J&K CM Omar Abdullah says talks with Centre on statehood restoration are ongoing and hopes the wait "won't be much longer."

"The process is underway... now we hope that we won't have to wait much longer for this... - Omar Abdullah"

Srinagar, February 17

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that the process for restoration of statehood to the Union Territory is "underway" even though it has taken longer than expected, but expressed hope that the wait may not be much longer.

Speaking about the demand for the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said that while there had been expectations of a quicker resolution, discussions with the Centre are ongoing.

"The process is underway, and the process has taken more time. We had hoped that by now, statehood would have been granted, but we have not yet given up hope. We are continuously talking to the central government about this matter...now we hope that we won't have to wait much longer for this..." the Chief Minister told reporters.

Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised into a Union Territory in August 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Since then, political parties in the region have consistently demanded the restoration of statehood.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also chaired a review meeting earlier today to assess the arrangements for the holy month of Ramadan.

He directed all departments to ensure seamless public service delivery, effective grievance redressal, and necessary arrangements at major places of worship to ensure a peaceful and comfortable Ramadan for the people.

Sharing an X post, Office of Chief Minister wrote, "Chief Minister chaired a review meeting today to assess the arrangements for the holy month of Ramadan. He directed all departments to ensure seamless public service delivery, effective grievance redressal, and necessary arrangements at major places of worship to ensure a peaceful and comfortable Ramadan for the people."

The Chief Minister directed the concerned departments to ensure sanitation, uninterrupted power and water supply, availability of essential commodities, market regulation, healthcare preparedness and security measures across J-K.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
It's good to see the CM focusing on Ramadan arrangements as well. Governance is about all communities. But on statehood, actions speak louder than words. We've heard "soon" for years now.
A
Aman W
As someone from Jammu, the development and peace since 2019 have been noticeable. Statehood is important, but not at the cost of the security and integration achieved. The centre should take its time to ensure a smooth transition.
S
Sarah B
Respectfully, I think the focus should be on delivering basic services like power, water, and healthcare first, which the article mentions. That's what truly impacts daily life. Statehood is a political topic, but governance is key.
V
Vikram M
"Won't have to wait much longer" – we've heard this before. The people of J&K deserve clarity and a timeline. Continuous dialogue is good, but there needs to be a tangible outcome. Hope this Ramadan brings a resolution closer.
K
Kavya N
Good to see the administration proactively planning for Ramadan. It shows sensitivity. On statehood, it's a complex issue. Trust the process, but also hope for expedited justice for the democratic aspirations of the people.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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