Farooq Abdullah warns fuel, gas crisis may worsen amid Iran-US tensions
Synopsis
Farooq Abdullah's warning goes beyond local politics — linking J&K's fuel and gas crunch directly to the Iran-US standoff, while also spotlighting how school shutdowns are hitting poor families hardest in a region where online learning infrastructure barely exists.
Key Takeaways
Farooq Abdullah warned on Monday that the fuel and gas crisis in J&K could worsen if Iran-US tensions escalate.
He flagged school shutdowns and the lack of online learning infrastructure as a serious threat to education for poor families .
Abdullah argued that alcohol prohibition without Centre compensation for lost revenue is impractical.
He cited a 1977 precedent when PM Morarji Desai urged Sheikh Abdullah to impose prohibition, which was declined on the same revenue grounds.
The former Chief Minister said the situation could become dire:
National Conference President and former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Monday raised alarm over the deepening fuel and gas crisis in the region, warning that escalating global tensions — particularly between Iran and the United States — could severely worsen the situation and push the country toward serious difficulties. Abdullah made the remarks while addressing reporters in Srinagar.
Fuel and Gas Crisis: The Core Concern
Abdullah did not mince words on the gravity of the situation.
Point of View
And school shutdowns in the name of a fuel crisis risk compounding years of learning loss already inflicted by internet restrictions. On prohibition, Abdullah's revenue-first argument is pragmatic but also a convenient deflection; the real question is whether J&K's governance framework even permits such a fiscal negotiation with the Centre under the current Union Territory status. His invocation of Sheikh Abdullah and Morarji Desai is politically deft but sidesteps the accountability question of what the National Conference itself has done to improve digital infrastructure in the region.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Farooq Abdullah say about the fuel and gas crisis?
Farooq Abdullah warned that J&K is facing a serious fuel and gas crisis that could worsen if Iran-US tensions escalate. He said the situation was already affecting everyday life and could lead to severe consequences if not addressed urgently.
How is the fuel crisis affecting education in J&K?
According to Abdullah, the crisis is forcing authorities to shut down schools. He highlighted that poor families lack access to devices and internet connectivity needed for online learning, making the situation particularly difficult for underprivileged children.
What did Farooq Abdullah say about alcohol prohibition?
Abdullah argued that banning alcohol would be ineffective as people would simply procure it from other states. He said prohibition could only be enforced if the Union government compensates states for the revenue currently generated through liquor sales.
What is the historical reference Abdullah made about prohibition?
Abdullah recalled that after the 1977 elections, then Prime Minister Morarji Desai urged his father Sheikh Abdullah to impose prohibition. Sheikh Abdullah responded that he would do so only if the Centre compensated for the lost liquor revenue — a condition that was not met.
Why is the Iran-US conflict relevant to India's fuel situation?
Global oil supply chains are sensitive to tensions involving Iran, a major oil producer, and the US. An escalation in that conflict could disrupt supply and drive up fuel prices, with downstream effects on economies like India's, particularly in energy-import-dependent regions like J&K.
