Farooq Abdullah Refutes BJP Allegations and Opposes Further Division of Jammu and Kashmir
SRINAGAR, January 20, 2026 — National Conference (NC) President and former Union Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah issued a staunch rebuttal on Tuesday against allegations from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claiming his party fosters unrest or terrorism within Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters during a high-profile party convention in Srinagar, the veteran leader highlighted the National Conference’s long-standing history of loyalty to the Indian state, emphasizing that the party’s rank and file have consistently faced life-threatening risks to uphold national integrity. Abdullah asserted that the NC has a “proven history of standing with India even at the cost of lives” and declared that they remain prepared to face bullets again if necessary to protect the region’s stability, directly challenging the narrative that his party is a source of instability.
Turning his attention to the administrative structure of the Union Territory, Abdullah dismissed calls for the further bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir or the creation of new administrative divisions as “ill-informed and baseless.” He specifically criticized proposals aimed at establishing separate divisions for the Pir Panjal and Chenab valleys, comparing these suggestions to the controversial and outdated Dixon Plan intended to fragment the region.
Rather than supporting further division, Abdullah articulated a vision for a unified state, expressing his hope that Ladakh—which was separated into its own Union Territory in 2019—would eventually rejoin Jammu and Kashmir. He noted that a significant portion of the Ladakhi population is currently seeking to reverse their UT status and return to the erstwhile state framework.
Addressing domestic political criticism and international relations, the NC leader also responded to recent comments from People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti regarding unemployment, urging her to reflect on her own party’s performance during its previous tenure.
On the global stage, Abdullah commented on the diplomatic ties between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump, while maintaining that dialogue with Pakistan remains a strategic necessity. Invoking the legacy of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he reminded critics that “neighbours cannot be changed,” suggesting that diplomatic engagement is unavoidable.
Abdullah concluded his address by accusing certain media segments of harboring a “Pakistan phobia” and warned that political recklessness is a global issue not confined to any single country.