Statehood key to restoring J&K's special status: CM Omar Abdullah

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said statehood was the foundation for restoring the special status of the Union Territory. Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Abdullah reiterated that the National Conference will continue reminding the BJP-led central government of its promise to restore statehood, adding that the party's protest in Delhi was a beginning in that direction.

He also said he had no expectation that the present BJP government, which abrogated Articles 370 and 35(A) in 2019, would restore the special status during its tenure. Abdullah had travelled to Delhi on July 20 for the protest demanding the restoration of statehood to J&K.

Also Read: Dharmendra Pradhan speaks out for first time on protests, attacks Rahul Gandhi


"Some people tell us to talk about (restoration of) Article 370 and J&K's special status first. I want to ask them what Article 370 or 371 means without statehood," Abdullah said, adding that "statehood is imperative for the restoration of special status. The CM said that whatever special status J&K may get, be it under Article 370 or any other provision, the key issue is the sharing of powers between the Centre and J&K.

"There is no sharing of powers between the Centre and a Union Territory because a UT does not have any powers. All powers of a UT lie either with the Centre or the Lok Bhavan. All Cabinet decisions go to Lok Bhavan first," Abdullah said.

Also Read: Arunachal SIR draft roll sees 19% deletion, Chandigarh 12%

"So, what power-sharing are you talking about under a special status if you do not have a state list? That is the issue. How many state list powers, central list or concurrent list powers are there under any special status, that is the argument," he said.

Saying statehood was the foundation for restoring special status, Abdullah asked, "Where is the state list without statehood?" "It is all Union list. That is why we say that to reach there, we have to lay a foundation. Only then can we build the structure on it," he said.

Abdullah said the party had not forgotten the issue of special status. "We passed the resolution (on special status) on the first day of the assembly session after the government was formed. That resolution is still alive. It can be taken up only after we have statehood," he said.