On his inaugural visit to New Delhi after assuming office, newly-elected Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Abdullah’s primary agenda was to seek the Centre’s cooperation for the smooth operation of the Union Territory’s administration and to emphasize the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
During the meeting, Omar Abdullah handed over a resolution passed by the newly-elected J&K legislature, urging the Centre to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood “in its original form.” This resolution had been approved by his Cabinet the previous week and subsequently endorsed by the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha. According to Abdullah, restoring statehood marks the beginning of a healing process, aimed at reclaiming constitutional rights and protecting the identity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting with PM Modi lasted for approximately 30 minutes, with Omar Abdullah presenting a bouquet and a traditional Kashmiri shawl to the Prime Minister as a gesture of goodwill. Sources indicated that the discussion included general matters related to the smooth functioning of the J&K administration, though no specific demands were raised.
Following his meeting with PM Modi, Omar also held talks with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, which focused on security matters in the region. While the discussions remained broad, Singh later took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his optimism: “Met with the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Shri @OmarAbdullah in New Delhi. The NDA Govt under PM Shri @narendramodi is looking forward to working with him for J&K’s progress.”
The prior day, Omar had a similar meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, where he emphasized development and sought the Centre’s cooperation. Reports suggest that senior officials in the Modi administration have assured Abdullah of their support in facilitating growth and development initiatives in the Union Territory.
The restoration of statehood was the primary agenda item in the first meeting of the newly-formed Cabinet chaired by Omar Abdullah. The resolution was passed unanimously, highlighting the urgency and unity among the newly-elected representatives regarding this issue. Abdullah’s efforts to restore statehood are seen as a significant move to regain the region’s former status and autonomy.
Leave a Reply