Nearly six-and-a-half years after Article 370 was removed, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday reiterated in the Legislative Assembly that his government is committed to restoring the special status.
Concluding the discussion on the motion of thanks on the address of the Lieutenant Governor, the Chief Minister emphasized that although statehood remains a core issue for his government, it has not kept the special status in the air of controversy.
Abdullah said, “The NC government is committed to restoring the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Article 370, though hollowed out, is still embedded in the Constitution and has not been removed. The day the BJP government removes it from the Constitution, we will bring a motion in this House the very next day for its restoration.”
On August 5, 2019, the BJP government had abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories – Ladakh without an assembly and Jammu and Kashmir with an assembly. Article 370 guaranteed special status, separate constitution and separate flag to Jammu and Kashmir.
“I want to reiterate that the National Conference and this government are committed to the promises made during the elections, especially the promise of restoring the special status of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said during his marathon speech that lasted for over an hour.
He said, “We do not find it necessary to mention Article 370 clearly because it has not been removed from the Constitution. If it had been removed, I would have said it should be reinstated. It still exists. You hollowed it out and took away our constitutional status.”
Some opposition members had criticized that Article 370 was not clearly mentioned in the LG’s address.
He said, “Although statehood is our top demand, the opposition leaders will ask why Article 370 was not mentioned in the address. This is because Article 370 has not been removed from the Constitution yet. If it had been removed, I would have demanded that it should be brought back, but it is still present in the Constitution, although you (BJP) have made it hollow.”
The CM reminded how the Center had snatched away the special status in August 2019.
He said, “Since Article 370 is still there, we say that the special status under it should be restored. That is why this House had passed a resolution in the first session of the Legislative Assembly itself.”
The CM said that Article 370 remains in the law books and there is hope that it will be restored.
Once again the Chief Minister felt the pain of leading a Union Territory due to the dual power system, where the LG has the final say on governance-related issues.
“I clearly agree that it is very difficult to work in a UT. I am really afraid of the man who invented this UT model. I appeal to the PM to abolish this system if he has to give a gift. If UT status becomes mandatory then it would be better not to have a legislature with it and if UT is not required then make it a state. This is a betrayal of the people’s mandate.”
The chief minister, who also holds the charge of the finance department, recalled how the transfer order of J&K Finance Secretary was issued when the UT was preparing its budget for the financial year 2026-27.
“We were preparing our budget and I got news from social media that our financial secretary has been transferred to Delhi with immediate effect. It is a regrettable situation. We are grateful that our chief secretary took up the matter and we managed to retain him here till February 9,” he said.
Omar is going to present his second consecutive budget on Friday.
He also expressed confidence that the business rules will be amended and approved to ease the functioning of the Assembly.
The Chief Minister again raised the MBBS admission controversy which ultimately led to the de-recognition of the first batch of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College.
He said, “Even today I am surprised that a medical college in Jammu was closed just because there were 42 Muslim students in the first batch. If you did not want Muslim students then you should have given minority status to the institution. Now you want National Law University (NLU) but what if Muslims get admission there also on the basis of merit.”
“This is what my information says ₹An investment of Rs 300 crore has been made in the medical college. I request BJP to give it minority status. It’s okay if Muslim students are not able to study there, but don’t close it because a medical college produces doctors who will serve the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
On the revised reservation policy awaiting the approval of the Home Ministry, the CM said that since the Home Minister will reach Jammu on Thursday, he will take up the matter and seek its approval.
On SASCI (Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment) scheme, he expressed his gratitude to the PM, HM and FM for extending it to Union Territories including Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry from this year.
He also accused the BJP of interfering in various power projects in Kishtwar for appointment of workers, contracts and vehicles.
CM also referred to “media gag” by the administration in Jammu and Kashmir
He said, “We talk about democracy but then harass media persons. Keeping the fourth pillar alive becomes indispensable for a healthy democracy.”
He criticized the government for profiling mosques and imams in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said, “I fail to understand what prompted the profiling and why. And, when journalists write about this, you call them to police stations. This is not fair, shooting the messengers is not acceptable. A journalist had just written about the delay in snow removal and was made to sit in the police station for six hours.”
The Chief Minister also referred to his initiative at the conference of Chief Ministers of the Northern Region in the presence of the Home Minister, where he had demanded that the disturbing trend of attacks and harassment on Kashmiris should be stopped immediately as “it will lead to alienation.” “The Home Minister is reaching Jammu tonight and I will reiterate this to him,” he said.
Government will allot land on lease basis to disaster affected landless families: Chief Minister
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said his government has approved the allotment of five ‘Marla’ lands on a 40-year lease basis to landless families affected by natural disasters in 2025.
“Financial assistance has been provided to more than 6,400 families affected by floods and landslides in Udhampur district,” he said.
In a written reply to a question by BJP member Balwant Singh Mankotia in the Assembly, the CM said the Council of Ministers took a decision, following which a government order was issued on January 2, 2026, approving the allotment of five marlas (1.60 acres) of state land to each landless family rendered homeless due to floods, landslides, cloudbursts and earthquakes in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that the land will be made available for residential purposes on lease basis without charging any premium.
“Beneficiaries will have to pay annual land rent ₹10 per marla for a period of 40 years, which can be extended as per rules after approval by the competent authority,” he said.
A total of 6,449 affected families in Udhampur, Chenani, Ramnagar and Lati-Marothi tehsils were provided compensation as per the prescribed norms.
He said that 2,666 affected families were sanctioned in Udhampur tehsil. ₹9.32 crore, approximately while 1,208 families in Chenani tehsil received more than this ₹50 million.
Sanction given to 2,298 affected families in Ramnagar tehsil ₹More than Rs 7.8635 crore provided to 277 families of Lati-Marothi tehsil ₹1 crore as relief assistance.
Big boost to sports infrastructure in North Kashmir
Srinagar
: The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced various schemes to construct or upgrade at least four sports stadiums to boost sports infrastructure and facilities in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Responding to a series of questions from MLA Baramulla Javid Hasan Baig in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, the government said there was a proposal to upgrade Bipin Rawat Stadium, which already has cricket stadium with state-of-the-art seating facilities, indoor stadium with badminton facilities and pavilion/change rooms with gender-based washroom facilities, by installing high mast flood lights. proposal for
The government said it also proposes to upgrade the recently constructed football stadium at Azad Ganj, Baramulla through seating arrangements, developing pavilions/changing rooms with gender-based washrooms and installation of CCTV cameras for an amount of Rs. 170.64 lakh.
“The DPR is ready to start work in the upcoming budget,” the response said.
