Amid Oppn attack, Omar Abdullah says J&K a UT till we get back statehood

Srinagar: As the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government steered the passage of the Jammu and Kashmir Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025 through a voice vote on Tuesday, opposition parties from Kashmir termed it a ratification of the Union Territory (UT) status of J&K through an elected assembly.

Chief minister Omar Abdullah said the opposition was unnecessarily politicising the issue on the basis of "WhatsApp University forwards", reiterating that the UT status of J&K would be a reality till Parliament restored the statehood of J&K.

The government said the bill, introduced by the CM, aims to align the UT's GST Act with recent amendments made to the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017.


Sajad Lone of People's Conference walked out of the House stating that he won't participate in the "sin" while Waheed Ur Rehman Para of People's Democratic Party said the bill was akin to putting a stamp on the Centre's moves of August 5, 2019, when the special status accorded to J&K was abrogated and the state was downgraded into the two UTs of J&K and Ladakh.

"I want to make it clear that the passage of the bill is tantamount to endorsement of the UT status of J&K," said Lone.