Mallikarjun Kharge Slams Central Government Over Security Breach Involving Farooq Abdullah; Demands Restoration of J&K Statehood

NEW DELHI, March 12, 2026 — Speaking in the Rajya Sabha today, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge raised serious concerns over a reported attack on veteran leader Dr. Farooq Abdullah in Jammu and Kashmir, characterizing the incident as a grave threat to his safety.

Kharge questioned why such a dangerous environment persists in a region where the entire security apparatus and law enforcement are under the direct control of the Central Government and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

He argued that the deteriorating law and order situation, which nearly cost a senior statesman his life, reflects a systemic failure of central oversight.

Highlighting that local security personnel managed to avert a tragedy by a mere minute’s margin, Kharge pointedly asked whether the government is truly committed to ensuring the safety of political leaders and why comprehensive protection was not already in place.

The Leader of Opposition further asserted that the current climate of fear and insecurity in Jammu and Kashmir is a direct consequence of the lack of a democratic, local government. He maintained that until statehood is fully restored and an elected administration is established, neither the prominent leaders nor the general public will feel genuinely secure.

According to Kharge, the current centralized control has left those standing for secularism, socialism, and national unity vulnerable to violence. He concluded by emphasizing that the restoration of democratic rights is the only viable path to ending the prevailing atmosphere of intimidation and ensuring that the voices of the people are protected from targeted threats.