Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on 15 August 2025 said that the deteriorating situation in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) has vindicated the decision taken by the people of the region nearly 80 years ago to accede to India. He was speaking at the main Independence Day function at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar, where he hoisted the Tricolour and took the salute at a ceremonial parade.

Key Remarks at Bakshi Stadium

Opening his address with the celebrated verse of Urdu poet Iqbal — 'Sare Jahan Se Achha Hindustan Hamara' — Abdullah described Independence Day as a moment of both celebration and introspection. 'Today, we pay tribute to all those who laid down their lives for the freedom of our country. It is a day of happiness as well as remembrance. We must introspect whether we have truly established the India that we read about and celebrate,' he said.

The Chief Minister recalled that it was the people of Jammu and Kashmir who first resisted the tribal raiders before the Indian Army was deployed. 'Our people fought bravely against the tribal raiders. Thousands sacrificed their lives. Looking at the situation in PoJK today, I realise that the decisions taken by our ancestors 80 years ago were the right ones,' he said.

Concern Over the Situation Across the LoC

Referring to developments across the Line of Control, Abdullah said the situation in PoJK remained a matter of deep concern. 'The situation across the border is worrisome and causes us pain. That part of Kashmir is ours, and even in our Assembly, seats remain reserved for that region,' he said. The remark comes amid sustained reports of civil unrest and administrative discontent in PoJK in recent months.

Call to Protect Democracy and Federalism

Abdullah underscored the need to safeguard democratic institutions and strengthen India's federal structure. 'Protecting democracy at all costs is our greatest responsibility. What has been taken away from us should be restored so that the federal structure of our country becomes stronger,' he said. The statement is widely read as a reference to the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 in 2019 and the region's subsequent reorganisation into two Union Territories.

NEET and Examination Concerns

The Chief Minister also raised concerns over the conduct of national entrance examinations, particularly NEET, noting that protests had erupted after central agencies were entrusted with examinations traditionally administered by states. 'National-level examinations are welcome, but state institutions should not be sidelined. Changes in examination rules and the dilution of the role of colleges have led to widespread concerns and protests,' he said.

Prominent Attendees and Parade

Former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti were among the prominent attendees at the function, which drew large crowds from across walks of life amid elaborate security arrangements. Contingents of the J&K Police, CRPF, BSF, Army, and Fire and Emergency Services, along with schoolchildren, participated in the ceremonial parade.

With PoJK conditions continuing to draw attention and J&K's own political restoration on the agenda, Abdullah's Independence Day address signals that the region's relationship with the rest of India — and with the territory across the LoC — will remain central to its political discourse in the months ahead.