Omar Abdullah welcomes Kharge-Rahul push for J&K Statehood

Srinagar, July 16: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday welcomed the letter written by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking to reporters, Omar as per news agency KINS said, “This is a good thing. I thank Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi for raising this issue. We are not demanding anything that has not been promised to us before. We have been told many times that we will be given statehood at the right time.”

He further added, “Now, Jammu and Kashmir should be given statehood soon. It is time for the central government to honour its repeated commitments made in Parliament, in public forums, and even before the Supreme Court.”

Omar’s remarks came after the Congress leadership urged the government to introduce a bill in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament to restore J&K’s statehood — a promise made by the Union Government following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

Political voices across party lines in the Union Territory have been consistently calling for restoration of statehood, arguing that it is essential for democratic accountability, governance, and public trust. (KINS)