SRINAGAR JULY 21— Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah declared on Tuesday that restoring full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is the party’s immediate and topmost objective. Speaking at a press conference in Srinagar following the National Conference’s high-profile protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, Abdullah asserted that the demand for the region’s constitutional safeguards can only be meaningfully pursued once statehood is fully restored. Describing the New Delhi demonstration as merely the first phase of a broader, sustained democratic movement, he made it clear that the NC will continue its campaign until the Union Government honours its commitment to the people of J&K.
Abdullah firmly rejected accusations from rivals, stating that the National Conference has neither deviated from its core principles nor compromised its long-standing political agenda. Reminding critics that the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly has already passed a resolution regarding the region’s constitutional status, he stressed that the party will address all remaining constitutional matters once statehood is achieved.
The Chief Minister pointed out that the Centre has repeatedly assured both Parliament and the Supreme Court that J&K’s statehood would be restored, emphasizing that his party is simply holding the government accountable to those assurances rather than asking for political favors. Accusing opposition parties of misrepresenting the NC’s stance for political gain, Abdullah reiterated that after waiting nearly two years for the Centre to act, a peaceful democratic agitation was the only option left—and warned that the movement will intensify if further delayed.