Jammu and Kashmir's Chief Minister Reflects on Article 370's Impact After Seven Years

Chief Minister's Remarks on Article 370

Jammu/Srinagar, August 5 - Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, expressed on Wednesday that even after seven years since the abrogation of Article 370, the wounds of the people remain unhealed. He highlighted that the central government's promise to restore the statehood of this union territory has yet to be fulfilled. Abdullah noted that the residents had hoped that restoring statehood would alleviate some of their grievances and suffering. Speaking to reporters in the Surankote tehsil of Poonch district, he stated, 'Our wounds are still unhealed.'

He added, 'We had hoped that some of our pain would lessen and that the promise of restoring statehood would be honored. However, today marks seven years since August 5, 2019, and that promise remains unfulfilled.' The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government revoked Article 370 on August 5, 2019, stripping the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state of its special constitutional status and reorganizing it into two union territories: Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

The Chief Minister reiterated that the central government's commitment has not been realized, and his administration stands firm on this issue. He remarked, 'As we stated when passing the resolution in the assembly, we are steadfast in our position and will continue to seek justice for the injustices we have faced.'

Earlier, Abdullah reaffirmed his commitment to reversing the central government's decisions in a post on 'X'. He stated that his party, the National Conference, has not accepted the current circumstances. He wrote, 'Seven years have passed, but we have neither forgotten nor compromised with these conditions, nor have we accepted them.'

He concluded his post with lines from the famous poem 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening' by American poet Robert Frost: 'The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep...'

On this occasion, members of the ruling National Conference (NC) staged protests in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir, including Srinagar and Jammu, under the leadership of senior leaders, demanding the restoration of the erstwhile state's special status. A large number of NC leaders, legislators, and activists gathered at the party headquarters 'Nawa-e-Subah' in Srinagar, led by Minister Sakina Ittoo, and attempted to march in protest. Carrying placards in support of restoring statehood and Article 370, the demonstrators tried to exit the party office premises but were stopped by the police.

Similar protests were also held in Jammu and other district headquarters in the region.