CM Omar Abdullah Accuses BJP of Delaying Jammu and Kashmir Statehood and Using Backdoor Tactics

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JAMMU ,July 12, 2026: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing the party of intentionally delaying the restoration of the region’s statehood and employing “backdoor tactics” to grab power.

Speaking at a public gathering in Jammu, Abdullah recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech in Katra during the resumption of train services, where the PM explicitly termed the return of J&K’s statehood as a personal guarantee. Abdullah questioned why local BJP leaders seemed intent on undermining the Prime Minister’s commitment by constantly deflecting the timeline with vague assertions of “the right time and opportunity.” The Chief Minister challenged the BJP to hold an open public meeting and explicitly admit if statehood is being withheld until a BJP leader becomes the Chief Minister.

Turning his focus to the regional political landscape, Abdullah argued that the entire delimitation exercise was explicitly engineered to favor the BJP and its allies. He pointed out that out of the seven newly created seats in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP secured six, which he claimed exposes a clear agenda to seize control of the government through unconventional means.

Abdullah strongly dismissed allegations that his own party, the National Conference, was manipulating the system, asserting instead that the BJP is the true architect of political subversion. Citing “Operation Lotus” and referencing the fracturing of major political parties in Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Punjab, Abdullah stated that the BJP’s hunger for power drives it to rule through the backdoor wherever it fails to win a mandate through the front door.