Centre Not Serious About Restoring J-K Statehood, Says Farooq Abdullah

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday accused the Centre of not being serious about restoring full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that the Union Territory system was creating obstacles to addressing public concerns.

His remarks came after the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly passed a resolution urging the Centre to immediately restore full statehood to the Union Territory. Addressing a gathering here, Abdullah said the struggle for restoration of statehood had become imperative as the Centre had not demonstrated the required sincerity and seriousness.

He also maintained that the special status enjoyed by Jammu and Kashmir before August 5, 2019, remained extremely close to the hearts of its people and could not be erased from their minds.

Abdullah, a three-time former chief minister, said the National Conference's demand for statehood did not mean the party had abandoned its struggle for the constitutional and democratic rights of the people.

He said the elected government was committed to regularising daily-wagers, streamlining reservation, creating employment opportunities and accelerating development. However, he alleged that the Union Territory framework was creating hurdles in achieving these objectives.

According to Abdullah, efforts to address the grievances of employees, traders, unemployed youth, artisans, farmers and orchardists were also facing obstacles at various levels.

The NC chief further raised concerns over Kashmiri youth who, he said, had been languishing in jails for years. He also referred to those arrested during protests following the death of Ayatollah Khamenei, saying their continued detention was adversely affecting their educational and professional careers.

Abdullah said young people were also facing difficulties in obtaining verification for passports, employment and other purposes, forcing them to make repeated visits to government offices. He asserted that resolving these issues was intrinsically linked to the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood.