ibn sultan
Srinagar, May 6: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister on Wednesday expressed strong disappointment over the continued delay in restoring statehood to the Union Territory, questioning whether the people are being “punished” for not electing a BJP chief minister.
In an interview with PTI, Abdullah said it was deeply unfair that the promise of restoring statehood has not been fulfilled. He remarked that if the delay is politically motivated, the BJP should have clearly stated in Parliament or before the Supreme Court that statehood would only be granted if a BJP-led government was elected in J&K.
“Had they said so openly, people would at least know what to expect and decide accordingly,” he said, terming the delay as “deceit” and a breach of promise.
The National Conference leader noted that the Centre had laid out a three-step roadmap for J&K—delimitation, elections, and restoration of statehood. While the first two steps have been completed, the final step remains pending even after nearly 20 months of his government being in office.
He further criticized the ambiguity surrounding the timeline, stating that repeated assurances of restoring statehood at an “appropriate time” lack clarity. “What is the yardstick for this appropriate time? No one is able to explain,” he said.
Despite regular meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, Abdullah said there has been no clear indication of what conditions must be met for statehood restoration.
On Article 370, he said engaging with the current central government on the issue is futile. “Those who are not ready to restore statehood will not restore Article 370 either,” he remarked.
Abdullah reiterated that his party remains committed to its core principles and will not mislead the public with unrealistic promises. (PTI)
