New Delhi: Omar Abdullah, Vice President of the National Conference (NC), has called any expectation of Article 370’s reinstatement by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—the party that abrogated it in 2019—“foolish.” His statement came amid renewed discussions about the controversial decision.
Despite this, Abdullah reaffirmed his party’s unwavering commitment to the demand for restoring Article 370. He emphasized that the NC will continue its efforts to bring the issue to the forefront of the political agenda in Jammu and Kashmir.
Abdullah’s comments followed the NC-Congress alliance’s notable success in the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. “We remain firm on our political stance. We have consistently stated that we won’t shy away from discussing Article 370,” Abdullah said, making it clear that his party’s agenda remains focused on the restoration of the special status.
While he termed the hope of receiving any support from the BJP as illogical, he was confident that the issue would continue to be part of the ongoing political conversation. The election results, which marked a major victory for the NC-Congress alliance, signaled a rejection of the BJP’s 2019 move to revoke Article 370.
Looking to the future, Abdullah expressed hope that a more amenable government might emerge, willing to engage in dialogue over Article 370. “We will keep this issue alive and continue advocating for change,” he said, hinting at possible shifts in national governance that could lead to discussions on the matter.
Abdullah also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to follow through on his promises of restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, which had been removed along with the abrogation of Article 370. The NC-Congress alliance had made statehood restoration a key component of their election platform. “I thanked the Prime Minister when he congratulated us and I want to work with Delhi to serve the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Abdullah said in an interview with TV9, urging swift action on the issue.
Abdullah stressed the importance of maintaining a constructive relationship with New Delhi and highlighted Modi’s assurances made both in Parliament and at public rallies. He reiterated that the restoration of statehood should not depend on whether the BJP forms a government in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We do not practice the politics of revenge,” Abdullah said, emphasizing that both Kashmir and Jammu will be represented fairly under the new government, despite concerns of less representation for Jammu in the newly formed assembly.
The National Conference’s triumph, securing 42 seats in the 90-member Assembly, marks a significant political rebound for Omar Abdullah, who won both the Budgam and Ganderbal seats, following recent setbacks in the Lok Sabha elections.
