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| CM Omar challenges BJP to prove single benefit of Art 370 abrogation | | Budget Session 2025 | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 6: Chief Minister on Thursday threw down the gauntlet to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), daring the opposition party to present concrete evidence of any significant benefits that Jammu and Kashmir has accrued following the abrogation of Article 370.
Speaking during the concluding session of discussions on the Lieutenant Governor’s Address in the Legislative Assembly, Abdullah dismissed the BJP’s narrative around Article 370’s removal, calling the ongoing debate a futile exercise unless the party could back its claims with facts and figures.
Abdullah specifically asked the BJP to identify any major developmental project that had been obstructed solely due to the existence of Article 370 before its abrogation in August 2019.
“You keep insisting that development was held hostage by Article 370 — can you name a single project, a single initiative that was impossible to undertake because of this constitutional provision?” Abdullah asked, directly confronting the BJP’s long-standing assertion that Article 370 was a roadblock to progress.
The National Conference leader also took aim at the BJP’s claim that political reservations for Scheduled Tribes (STs) were made possible only after Article 370 was scrapped.
“You proudly state that political reservation has empowered Scheduled Tribes, particularly the Gujjar-Bakarwal community. But let’s talk facts — how many Gujjar MLAs were in the previous Assembly, and how many are there now?” Abdullah asked, challenging the BJP to demonstrate any tangible political empowerment that had resulted from the change.
Turning to the issue of terrorism, Abdullah accused the BJP of propagating contradictory narratives to suit its agenda. “When it comes to terrorism, you blame Pakistan. But in the same breath, you say Article 370 fueled terrorism. If Article 370 was responsible, why has terrorism expanded into areas that were previously peaceful — such as parts of the Jammu region — after its removal?” Abdullah asked. Citing terror attack on pilgrims in Reasi, he argued that the security situation has worsened rather than improved.
Abdullah further lambasted the BJP over rising allegations of corruption in major schemes like the Jal Jeevan Mission. “Corruption is rampant, and the situation has only deteriorated post-August 2019,” he said. In addition, he highlighted the unchecked rise of the mining mafia, alleging that vested interests were exploiting the region’s natural resources under the current dispensation.
Responding to BJP’s repeated accusations that the National Conference had disrespected Maharaja Hari Singh — the last ruler of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir — Abdullah categorically refuted the charges. “Let me remind you — we never renamed institutions, roads, or public buildings dedicated to the Dogra rulers. We hold the Maharaja’s legacy in high regard because it was he who laid the foundation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir,” he asserted.
Abdullah also took the BJP to task on its rhetoric regarding Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Calling the party’s bluster hollow, he dared the BJP to walk the talk. “If you are so committed to reclaiming PoJK, what’s stopping you? During the Kargil war, you had the chance — why didn’t you act then?” he questioned, exposing what he called the BJP’s selective nationalism.
On the contentious bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, Abdullah pointed out that opposition to the move had come not just from Kashmir but from within Ladakh as well — including its Buddhist population.
Drawing a comparison with Himachal Pradesh, Abdullah questioned why locals in Jammu and Kashmir were not entitled to similar job protections.
“In Himachal Pradesh, 70% of government jobs are reserved for locals. Why doesn’t the same apply here?” he asked.
Reaffirming his party’s unwavering commitment to the restoration of Article 370, Abdullah said, “You may repeatedly claim that Article 370 is history, but we are confident that the day will come when it will be restored. We will continue to fight for this — through peaceful and democratic means — because it is a matter of our identity and our rights.”
On the broader issue of statehood, Abdullah lamented the lack of collective urgency among Assembly members to push for its restoration. “Before the statehood question is resolved, we have taken steps to ensure smoother governance by framing new business rules, which have been forwarded to the Lieutenant Governor for approval. But statehood must remain our larger goal,” he added.
Abdullah concluded his speech by reiterating the National Conference’s resolve to continue fighting for the rights and dignity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “This is not just about a constitutional article; it’s about our political identity, economic rights, and cultural dignity. No matter how long the fight, we will stand firm,” he asserted. |
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