Srinagar, Aug 25: Turning to the long-pending issue of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday voiced disappointment over what he described as the Supreme Court’s reluctance to expedite hearings on the matter.
“It is unfortunate that the Supreme Court is not ready to hear this. We will wait a little more, but we are still hoping that if the Centre does not take this decision, at least the Supreme Court should,” Abdullah said.
Speaking at an event organised by the Samaj-e-Bahbood Institute in Srinagar, the Chief Minister recalled that the first resolution passed by his cabinet after assuming office was in favour of restoring J&K’s statehood. He said he personally handed the resolution to the Prime Minister during their first official meeting.
“It has been more than 10 months. We have waited, but we have not got any benefit of our waiting,” he added.
While acknowledging the Supreme Court’s role in facilitating Assembly elections in the region by setting a deadline, Abdullah criticised the apex court for not applying a similar time-bound approach to the statehood issue.
“Had the court not ordered elections within a time frame, I would perhaps not be speaking to you as Chief Minister today. The elections were possible only because the SC put a limit. Unfortunately, it did not do the same on statehood, and that is why we are being dragged like this,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the case regarding statehood is listed before the court in October, and he expressed hope that this time the court would set a clear timeline.
Omar also updated the public on his party’s ongoing campaign to collect signatures in support of the statehood demand. He said the exercise would continue until completion, after which the signatures would be submitted to both the Central Government and the Supreme Court.
“When we complete it, we will submit it to the Central Government and the Supreme Court,” he stated.
Addressing recent protests in Srinagar, including one led earlier in the day by PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti over the rights of prisoners, Abdullah dismissed such demonstrations as ineffective, saying they fail to bring about actual policy change.
“If this matter has to be resolved, it must be put before the Home Minister in Delhi. Doing it in Srinagar is only for show,” he said.
During his address at the event, Abdullah also highlighted the gap between the availability of welfare schemes and public awareness about them.
“There is no shortage of schemes, only a shortage of information,” he noted, urging officials and community leaders to guide people—especially in rural and underserved areas—on how to access benefits that are now largely available through digital platforms.
