Omar Abdullah Says Modi, Shah Hold Key to Restoring J&K Statehood

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that the decision on restoring statehood to the Union Territory rests with only Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Speaking to reporters in Anantnag district, Abdullah said, “The decision on restoration of statehood can be taken by only two persons, the prime minister and the home minister.” He said this was the reason his government had organised a protest in Delhi demanding the restoration of statehood.

Abdullah was responding to remarks attributed to Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, who reportedly said that neither statehood nor Article 370 would be restored in the region.

Taking a dig at Sharma, Abdullah said the BJP leader issues several statements every day and suggested that he was unlikely to be consulted by Modi or Shah on the matter. He added that Sharma would one day wake up and read in the newspapers that statehood had been restored to Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Abdullah, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chaudhary and Forest Minister Javed Rana, visited the Halmulla cricket bat manufacturing hub in Anantnag and met members of the bat manufacturers' association.

The chief minister said the manufacturers had raised three key demands, and the government had promised to find solutions to all of them. Their primary concern, he said, was the availability of raw material, particularly willow wood, which is currently under stress.

Abdullah said a large number of willow trees had been felled around Wullar Lake, while fresh plantation in the area was not being permitted due to a High Court order.

Another major demand raised by the manufacturers was the need for an uninterrupted power supply to cricket bat manufacturing units. Abdullah said the government would work towards addressing the concerns and supporting the industry.