Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has once again called for the restoration of statehood to J&K, stating that it was the only unfortunate state in the country whose status was downgraded to a Union Territory — a reversal of the trend seen elsewhere in India.
“It was the only unfortunate state in the country whose status was downgraded to a Union Territory. Elsewhere in the country, UTs are upgraded to states, but here, it was the reverse. We want the promises made to us regarding statehood to be fulfilled,” Omar Abdullah told reporters in Ahmedabad during his visit to Gujarat to promote tourism in the region.
Commenting on the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the Chief Minister as per KINS said that several tourist destinations across the Union Territory were closed immediately after the incident for a comprehensive security audit.
“In the immediate aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, almost all our tourist destinations were closed for a security audit,” he said. “We only started reopening them once we were satisfied with the results of that audit. Some areas are still closed and will only be reopened when we are confident they are safe.”
Abdullah emphasized that safety remains the government’s top priority. “We want tourists to experience the beauty of Kashmir, but not at the cost of their safety. Caution must always come first,” he added, underlining the administration’s phased and safety-first approach to reopening public spaces.
On matters of governance and security, the Chief Minister noted that while he is not part of official security review meetings — which are now overseen by the Lieutenant Governor and Union Government — he remains well-informed. “Security responsibility should also lie with the elected government. We’ve managed tough situations in the past and deserve a greater role in maintaining peace,” he said.
When asked about former U.S. President Donald Trump’s shifting stance on trade tariffs, Abdullah remarked, “I don’t think even Americans know what to do with Trump. Today he talks about a 25% tariff, tomorrow it might be 15%, then 5%. There’s no consistency.”
Omar Abdullah’s statements reflect a blend of political clarity and administrative caution, reaffirming his party’s commitment to restoring statehood and maintaining public confidence in the safety and governance of Jammu and Kashmir. (KINS)
