The National Conference Vice President, Omar Abdullah, launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Central government, asserting that the decision to abrogate Article 370 had deeply fractured the relationship between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India.
In a media interaction, Abdullah expressed widespread discontent among the people of Jammu and Kashmir regarding the unilateral revocation of the region’s special status. He emphasized that the assurances made to Jammu and Kashmir were not mere promises of an individual or party but were commitments made by the nation to its people.
He highlighted the discontent among residents through election outcomes, referencing the Kargil and District Development Council polls, indicating a potential reflection in future assembly elections.
Criticizing the delay in conducting elections, Abdullah accused the authorities of orchestrating a predetermined scenario, limiting the region’s democratic rights. He lamented the denial of voting rights to the people since 2014, indicating an intentional hindrance to the democratic process.
Abdullah’s critique coincided with a debate in the Lok Sabha over bills related to Jammu and Kashmir’s reservation and reorganization. Union Home Minister Amit Shah defended the bills, stating they aimed to provide justice to those who faced injustice and ensure respect in granting rights.
The revocation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, marked a significant constitutional change in Jammu and Kashmir, stripping the region of its special status, which had been part of the Indian Constitution since October 17, 1949, and allowing the state to have its own Constitution except for Article 1 and Article 370 itself.
