Had Article 370 stayed, PoK may have sought to rejoin J&K: Omar Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah praised the bravery of Kashmiris who fought against the 1947 tribal invasion before Indian forces arrived. He emphasized that if Article 370 had not been revoked in 2019, people living across the Line of Control (LoC) might have been protesting to rejoin J&K today. Omar Abdullah honored his grandfather and the founder of the National Conference, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, highlighting his role in resisting the Pakistan-backed invasion as crucial to J&K's history.

He recounted how thousands of brave individuals sacrificed their lives in the defense of the region. Omar's comments came as his government continues to advocate for restoring J&K's statehood, a stance that has become a political point of contention following the revocation of Article 370. The recent unrest in the PoK further strengthened Omar's argument, as he expressed his belief that the decision made by leaders 80 years ago was the right one.

He also noted the harsh conditions in the PoK, where Pakistani security forces have killed dozens in protests demanding the abolition of 12 seats in the 53-member assembly reserved for refugees from J&K who settled there after 1947. These protesters claim that the reserved seats allow Pakistani parties to exert influence in the region.

Omar contemplated what might have happened had J&K's situation not changed in 2019, suggesting that people from that part of J&K might be protesting to rejoin the state today. He stressed that all people in J&K are considered part of their own community, with no one being a stranger or outsider. Omar also tied federalism to his speech, arguing that central agencies interfering in state affairs undermines federalism.

He urged restoring J&K's statehood as part of a broader effort to strengthen all states, rather than reducing federalism to mere rhetoric. Omar also criticized the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), contending that states should have the right to conduct admissions to their medical and engineering colleges, as state institutions should retain autonomy in determining their academic policies.