J&K statehood: Farooq Abdullah demands Modi honour his public pledge
Synopsis
Farooq Abdullah has gone public with a pointed demand: Prime Minister Modi must deliver on his statehood promise to Jammu and Kashmir. With NC legislators planning a Jantar Mantar protest on the first day of the Monsoon session and opposition parties being invited to join, the statehood question is set to arrive on Parliament's doorstep with organised force — and an internal NC split over Article 370 adding a complicating layer.
Key Takeaways
Dr Farooq Abdullah on 10 June publicly demanded that PM Modi honour his commitment to restore J&K statehood .
CM Omar Abdullah has raised the issue with the Prime Minister on multiple occasions and received assurances, according to Dr Abdullah.
NC legislators plan to protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on the first day of Parliament's Monsoon session .
CM Omar Abdullah has invited PDP , Congress , and other parties to join the protest.
MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi will join the protest but insists restoration of Article 370 must be the primary demand — exposing a rift within the NC.
J&K lost statehood and special status in August 2019 ; the Supreme Court in December 2023 called for its earliest restoration.
National Conference President and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday, 10 June called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to honour his publicly stated commitment on restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking to party workers in Srinagar, Abdullah said the promise was made before the nation and the international community and must not remain unfulfilled.
What Abdullah Said
Dr Abdullah said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has raised the statehood question with the Prime Minister on multiple occasions and has received assurances in return. 'Omar Abdullah has taken up the issue of statehood with the Prime Minister, who assured him that it will be restored,' Dr Abdullah said, pressing for the process to be completed without further delay.
He underscored that the restoration of statehood remains the central political demand of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and expressed confidence that the country's leadership would eventually deliver on its commitment.
Planned Protest at Jantar Mantar
In a significant escalation of political pressure, National Conference legislators have resolved to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on the opening day of Parliament's Monsoon session, demanding both the restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees for J&K.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has reached out to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Indian National Congress, and other like-minded parties to join the demonstration, signalling an attempt to build a broader cross-party coalition on the issue.
Rift Within NC Over Article 370
The protest announcement has also surfaced an internal fault line within the National Conference. Estranged NC leader and Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi confirmed he would participate in the protest but insisted that the restoration of Article 370 — not merely statehood — must remain the party's primary demand. His position puts him at odds with the current NC leadership's more measured framing of the issue.
Background and Broader Context
Jammu and Kashmir was stripped of its special status and bifurcated into two Union Territories in August 2019, a decision that remains deeply contested in the region. The Supreme Court upheld the Centre's move in December 2023, but the bench also noted that statehood should be restored at the earliest opportunity — a judicial observation that has since become a key reference point for regional parties. This comes amid growing frustration among elected J&K leaders who argue that governance under Union Territory status limits their administrative and legislative authority. The Jantar Mantar protest marks the most organised political mobilisation by the NC on this issue since the party returned to power.
Point of View
The Centre gains room to dismiss the protest as maximalist and unrealistic, diluting the more legally grounded statehood ask. The NC's challenge is to keep its coalition broad without losing its message.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Farooq Abdullah's demand regarding J&K statehood?
Dr Farooq Abdullah has demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi honour his publicly stated commitment to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. He stated that PM Modi made this promise before the nation and the international community, and that CM Omar Abdullah has received personal assurances from the Prime Minister on the matter.
What protest has the National Conference planned?
NC legislators have decided to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on the first day of Parliament's Monsoon session, demanding the restoration of J&K statehood and constitutional guarantees. CM Omar Abdullah has invited PDP, Congress, and other parties to join the demonstration.
Why does J&K statehood matter?
Jammu and Kashmir was downgraded from a full state to a Union Territory in August 2019 when its special status was revoked. Elected leaders argue that UT status curtails their legislative and administrative powers. The Supreme Court, while upholding the 2019 decision in December 2023, noted that statehood should be restored at the earliest opportunity.
What is the internal disagreement within the National Conference?
MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, described as an estranged NC leader, has said he will join the Jantar Mantar protest but insists that restoration of Article 370 — not just statehood — must be the primary demand. This puts him at odds with the current NC leadership, which has focused its public messaging on statehood.
Has PM Modi committed to restoring J&K statehood?
According to Dr Farooq Abdullah and CM Omar Abdullah, Prime Minister Modi has given assurances that statehood will be restored. Dr Abdullah stated that the commitment was made publicly before the nation and the international community, though no official timeline has been announced by the Centre.
