Omar Abdullah raises pitch over Statehood, constitutional guarantees ahead of Jantar Mantar protest
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday (July 8, 2026) raised the pitch over the demands of Statehood and constitutional guarantees for the
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday (July 8, 2026) raised the pitch over the demands of Statehood and constitutional guarantees for the region, days ahead of the party’s protest in Delhi on July 20. In a first, ruling Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah will ask parties associated with the INDIA bloc and non-BJP aligned political parties like the Aam Aadmi Party, Shiromani Akali Dal, Biju Janata Dal and the Bahujan Samaj Party, to join the party’s protest. Seeking broader support The NC had also sought the support of over 170 civil society bodies in Srinagar over these demands on Tuesday.
“Everyone, without any exception, emphasised that it is too late to restore Statehood. The Centre should not delay any longer,” said Mr. Omar. He said the representatives of around 170 sections of the society, including religious leaders, traders, retired bureaucrats, educationists and transporters, “unanimously called for the restoration of Statehood”. The Chief Minister said invitations would be sent to all political parties in J&K, including those currently represented in the Assembly, where they will be asked to join the protest. It was in June this year that the NC Legislature Party unanimously decided to go to New Delhi and protest on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
The NC then said the protest will be for Statehood and constitutional guarantees. The erstwhile State of J&K was split into two Union Territories (UTs) in 2019 when the Centre ended seven decades of semi-autonomous status of the region under provisions of Article 370. Delay in police verification Meanwhile, the Chief Minister expressed helplessness over the delay in police verifications for job aspirants in J&K. “It takes more time to fill the posts than before. I don’t remember the CID playing such a significant role in appointments during our time as it does today.
More time is spent on police verification and CID clearance. But it is not in our hands,” said Mr. Omar.
The BriefWire