In a politically charged statement, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on June 25 said he is willing to vacate his seat for a BJP-led government — if that’s the only way the Centre will restore full statehood to the region.
“Let New Delhi be honest with the people. If the condition for statehood is a BJP Chief Minister, I will step aside,” Omar said in a chat with Kashmir News Service. “At least the people of J&K will get their dignity and rights back.”
Calling for clarity and transparency from the central government, Omar said the people of J&K deserve to know whether their aspirations for statehood are being held hostage to political calculations in Delhi.
He also defended his government’s performance, saying the mandate he holds is for a full five-year term, not a “five-week or five-month” experiment.
“We’re not here for optics. We’re here to deliver,” he said, citing an improved power supply and a recently approved ₹10,600 crore infrastructure package focused on roads and tunnels.
Responding to criticism from political rival Muzaffar Hussain Baigh, who suggested Omar should resign if he cannot deliver, the CM struck back. “Why should I resign?
Did anyone resign when people were dying in 2016? All we heard then were talks of milk and toffees—no accountability, no apology,” he remarked.
On the contentious reservation issue, Omar said the matter is under legal review and the cabinet will take a final decision only after due diligence. “We will not allow any cabinet decision to be struck down in court. The law department’s clarity is vital,” he said.
He credited the reservation sub-committee for working faster than anticipated and distanced himself from the origin of the controversy. “This wasn’t my mess. But I’m fixing it,” he noted.
Targeting his opponents, Omar accused PDP leaders like Mehbooba Mufti and Sajjad Lone of political hypocrisy
“They stayed silent when reservation quotas were changed because they were busy securing government perks. Now, after defeat, they’ve found their voices.”
He accused the PDP of suppressing criticism to secure votes in Rajouri and Poonch, particularly from Gujjar and Pahari communities. “They instructed their candidates to stay silent on reservation to save their electoral arithmetic. Now they’re pretending to care,” he said.
Asserting his administration’s cautious approach, Omar vowed to steer clear of legal pitfalls. “We will not touch anything that falls under the Centre’s jurisdiction. But what lies within our powers—we will act, and we will act lawfully,” he said.
The chief minister wrapped up with a message of resolve: “We haven’t betrayed the people. We passed a resolution for special status—something no one expected. We did it, because we believe in our mandate.”
