Will The Clouds Over J&K Statehood Lift?

At the inauguration of the Z-Morh tunnel in Sonamarg on January 13, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah showered praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi by saying clouds have disappeared in his presence. “Prime Minister Saheb, you might have seen the weather has supported you; there is not a single cloud in the sky,” Omar said and the Prime Minister acknowledged it with a smile. “It is definitely cold, but there is no dearth of sunshine. No matter how cold it is outside, there is no dearth of warmth in our hearts,” Abdullah added.

While many criticised Abdullah's speech, accusing him of implying that the prime minister controls even the weather, People's Democratic Party (PDP) leaders dismissed it as a speech more suited to a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson. In contrast, the National Conference (NC) defended the chief minister, insisting that he presented his points to the prime minister in the appropriate manner. 

PDP leader Waheed Para commented, “Instead of raising the issue of Article 370, he talked about how clouds disappear in the PM’s presence.” Para, who is a PDP MLA, said that the CM's speech indicated a betrayal of the people's mandate, as he failed “to address key issues like political process, the release of political prisoners, and the restoration of Article 370; the issues on which he was elected.”

While many BJP leaders outside J&K view Abdullah's speech as a sign of getting close to the Centre, the NC has a different view. NC leaders argue that only the Centre and the prime minister can restore statehood, and Abdullah's speech was a strategic move to reach out in that direction.

Abdullah's speech has appealed to BJP leaders outside Jammu and Kashmir as the CM not only praised the PM for completing a development project initiated during the Congress' tenure but also credited the NDA government for its successful completion. He also praised the PM's role in ensuring free and fair elections in Jammu and Kashmir, subtly dismissing the Congress' allegations about electronic voting machine (EVM) tampering elsewhere in the country. His statements are seen as an endorsement of the BJP's governance, and have drawn praise from the party leaders.

The CM also stated in his speech that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are very satisfied with the fact that the tunnel was inaugurated by the PM.  Abdullah brought up the demand of statehood in a mild manner presenting it as the demand of the people.  He reminded the PM of a visit to Srinagar on International Yoga Day during which the PM had talked about the restoration of statehood. “During that programme, you talked to people about a few things and on the basis of those things, people started believing in you more,” Abdullah said, adding that the PM is working on bridging the distance of hearts and the actual distance from Delhi.

“When you visited Jammu and Kashmir, you had told the people here that very soon elections would be held and they would get a chance to choose their government through their votes,” he said, adding that the PM had kept his word and within four months, elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir. “My colleagues from the cabinet and the media ask me this question: when will Jammu and Kashmir get the status of a state? And I say that Prime Minister Saheb has fulfilled his election promise in four months. My heart says that very soon he will fulfil his third promise, which he made to the people on Yoga Day and Jammu and Kashmir will once again have its place in this country as a state.”

In response to the CM’s speech, without directly mentioning restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, the PM said, “I am Modi, and I keep the promises I make. All commitments that have been made will be fulfilled. There is a right time for everything.” He also said his mantra regarding development projects is that whatever they start they will also inaugurate.  

The PM also mentioned an international marathon held in Srinagar, saying that he remembered the CM had also participated in it. “A video of it went viral,” he said, adding that he had congratulated the CM when the latter met him in Delhi. 

While NC leaders are happy with the PM's response to Abdullah’s speech since he mentioned the CM 's name nine times, the bigger question for the NC is whether and when the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir will be restored.

Within the NC, there is a strong belief that the restoration of statehood is the key to governance in Jammu and Kashmir. The party views statehood restoration as a solution to the challenges posed by dual governance, where the Lt Governor wields substantial power and BJP leaders continue to head the Khadi and Village Industries Board and the Wakf Board, despite the BJP failing to secure any seats in Kashmir Valley during the last assembly elections. With major appointments including that of advocate general in limbo, the NC has high stakes in the restoration of statehood and is pinning all its hopes on the PM.