Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for high-level meetings with central leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
This is Abdullah’s first official visit to the national capital since becoming chief minister after the recently concluded elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the first in a decade.
A senior National Conference (NC) leader confirmed to THE WEEK that Omar is scheduled to meet Amit Shah later this evening.
He is also expected to meet Prime Minister Modi on Thursday, where he will likely present the resolution passed by the J&K Cabinet, calling for the restoration of statehood.
On October 17, the J&K Cabinet unanimously passed a resolution urging the central government to reinstate full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The region has been a Union Territory since August 2019, when its special status under Article 370 was revoked. This push for statehood comes at a critical time of political change, with Omar prioritising the restoration of statehood to fulfill the demand of the people.
Omar’s meetings with central leaders are being closely monitored, especially given the growing demand for the restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir.
His agenda is expected to cover broader governance and security issues in the region, including the recent militant attack in Ganderbal district that left seven workers, including a doctor, dead.
Restoring statehood was a major focus for political parties during the recent elections. The Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, made it a central issue, vowing to fight for it both in Parliament and through public protests.
The J&K Assembly is set to hold its first session on November 4. The NC and other regional parties are expected to push for a resolution to restore statehood and Article 370. While the BJP supports the demand for statehood, it remains firmly opposed to the restoration of Article 370 and is likely to resist any resolution calling for it.