Malik gh nabi cni

Srinagar, (cni) On the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah reiterated a firm demand for the restoration of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) to statehood, questioning the BJP‑led government on its performance since 2019.

Abdullah denounced the transformation of J&K from a state into a Union Territory as unconstitutional. “If the Constitution of India is to be respected,” he asserted, “a state should never be converted into a union territory” . He highlighted the unfulfilled promises made in Parliament and before the Supreme Court at the time of the abrogation—that terrorism would decline and statehood would be restored—and asked, “Has militancy disappeared? Or has it increased? The Centre should answer this in Parliament” .

He also voiced frustration with the absence of real devolution of power, noting that the Lieutenant Governor still controls crucial security and administrative functions: “There is a government in J&K, but the Viceroy is the main man… The time has come when this has to change. It is a democratic country…” .

Referring to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Abdullah emphasized that it underscored the failure of centralized oversight. He said, “The recent Pahalgam terror attack could have been prevented had the local government been in charge of security,” and added, “I am glad the Lieutenant Governor admitted failure—he should have had the courage to resign”(cni)