J&K statehood resolution only, not special status: Omar Abdullah
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday, 25 September 2026, clarified that the resolution passed in the J&K Legislative Assembly was solely about restoring full statehood to the union territory — and had nothing to do with special status or autonomy. Speaking at a press conference in Srinagar, Abdullah squarely blamed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders for being the 'worst opponents' of the statehood restoration effort.
What the Resolution Says
Abdullah was unequivocal in defining the scope of Friday's resolution. 'The resolution we brought in today in the House is only about the restoration of the statehood. It does not speak about autonomy or the special status of J&K,' he said. The CM explained that the phrase 'in addition' was deliberately used in the text only to distinguish Friday's resolution from earlier ones on autonomy and special status, which he noted 'have already been passed and are the property of the House.'
The resolution, according to Abdullah, is a formal reminder to the Centre to honour its commitment. 'All that we want is the restoration of full statehood to J&K. It is now almost two years since an elected government took office here. We have brought in the resolution today simply to remind the Centre that they must keep the promise they made to the people,' he said.
BJP's Walkout and Abdullah's Counterattack
The session turned fractious after BJP legislators walked out of the Assembly rather than vote on the resolution. Abdullah was sharply critical of the move. 'They must come into the Assembly and vote in favour of the resolution if they want the statehood restored, or vote against the resolution if they don't want the statehood restored. By walking out, they have completely exposed themselves before the people,' the CM said.
He further pointed out that the restoration of statehood to J&K was itself part of the BJP's 2014 election manifesto. 'They don't want something restored because of what they got voted and have 29 MLAs in the House,' he added. Notably, Abdullah's remarks frame the BJP's walkout not merely as procedural dissent but as a contradiction of the party's own electoral promises.
BJP's Demand for a Performance Review
Earlier, senior BJP leader Shamlal Sharma had asked the Abdullah government to give an account of its performance over the past two years. Abdullah turned the challenge around, welcoming a debate. 'Let the BJP bring in a resolution on Monday asking for our performance. We are ready to give the account, and we will also highlight the hardships we faced during these two years,' he said.
The Chief Minister also took aim at the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, describing him as 'the worst opponent of the restoration of statehood,' alleging the LoP had done 'everything to ensure that J&K does not get its statehood back.'
Government's Stability and What Comes Next
Responding to BJP claims that his National Conference (NC)-led government would soon collapse, Abdullah remained confident. 'If the BJP is so sure about the fall of my government, they must bring in a motion in the Legislative Assembly and seek a vote against my government,' he asserted. He was emphatic that Friday's resolution was not a partisan exercise: 'Today's resolution is neither for my party nor for any family. It is only for asking the Central government to restore the promised statehood to J&K.'
The resolution now formally sets the stage for a political reckoning between Srinagar and New Delhi on the statehood question, with the Centre's response — or silence — likely to shape the political narrative in J&K in the months ahead.