Omar praises India’s foreign policy over Brics mention of Pahalgam, slams Centre on UCC

Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah commended India's foreign policy on Tuesday following the Brics declaration condemning the Pahalgam terror attack. Omar saw significance in the mention of Pahalgam, given the presence of many Pakistan allies in the room. He stressed India should not seek validation from other countries for its foreign policy.

Omar also expressed optimism about China's potential reduction of troops along the Line of Actual Control, as any decrease in tension along the LoC or LAC is seen as a positive development.

However, Omar criticized the central government for attempting to introduce the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in NDA-governed states, arguing that such a decision should be made for the entire country, not individual states. He urged the Central government to introduce a bill in Parliament rather than circumventing it through state-level actions. Omar accused the Modi government of bypassing Parliament, questioning why they are pursuing the UCC via individual states.

The remarks came amid discussions about the implementation of the UCC before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, as announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Omar pointed out that some partners in the NDA, such as the TDP, JD(U), and LJP (RV), were cautious about the idea. He believed that even some of their allies do not support the UCC bill, making it unlikely for the bill to pass in Parliament through this route.