“Why the Delay?”: Farooq Abdullah Presses Centre to Restore J&K Statehood

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Friday strongly urged the Centre to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir , questioning the continued delay despite repeated assurances made by New Delhi before Parliament and the Supreme Court.

Addressing a public gathering in Anantnag in south Kashmir, the veteran leader said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had shown patience for years and now expected promises to be converted into concrete action.

“The people of Jammu and Kashmir have waited long enough. The promises made to them must now translate into action,” Abdullah said, while pressing the Centre to immediately return full powers to the elected government in the Union Territory.

The former chief minister argued that the period between 2018 and 2024 , when Jammu and Kashmir remained under bureaucratic administration , clearly demonstrated that governance run solely by officials could never replace a democratically elected government that stays connected with the people’s emotions, aspirations and daily concerns.

Abdullah said the people had already delivered their verdict through the democratic process and their democratic mandate deserved respect without further delay. According to him, elected representatives remain closely linked to ground realities and are more aware of local developmental challenges because of their constant interaction with citizens.

“A representative government listens, responds and acts according to the aspirations of the people, whereas bureaucratic systems often remain distant from public sentiment and ground realities,” he said.

The NC chief also defended the current government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah , saying the administration had remained committed to public welfare despite facing multiple constraints and challenges. He noted that party legislators continued to engage directly with people, listen to grievances and work towards solutions at the grassroots level.

The demand for restoration of statehood has remained one of the biggest political issues in Jammu and Kashmir since the region was reorganised into a Union Territory in 2019 . Abdullah’s latest remarks are likely to intensify political pressure on the Centre to clarify its roadmap on the issue.