Statehood Biggest Demand J & K Chose India In 1947: CM Omar

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) Srinagar- Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said Article 370 was never responsible for the lack of development in Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that decades of violence and instability, rather than the erstwhile state's special constitutional status, hampered economic growth and investment in the region.

Speaking at The Hindu Huddle 2026 in Bengaluru, Omar also reiterated that restoration of statehood remains the biggest political demand of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and stressed that the region had chosen to be part of India in 1947.

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“Pakistan wants us. We are a part of India. We chose to be a part of India. That was something they couldn't accept and still are unable to accept,” the Chief Minister said while responding to questions on India-Pakistan relations and Jammu and Kashmir's place in the geopolitical landscape.

Calling the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 the“biggest policy mistake” made by the Government of India, Omar said its removal had not brought about any extraordinary development in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Article 370 was never a cause of any lack of development in Jammu and Kashmir, nor has its revocation suddenly resulted in massive development,” he said.

The Chief Minister maintained that nearly three decades of militancy had discouraged investors and businesses from operating in Jammu and Kashmir.

“People will not invest money in a part of the country that they deem to be unsafe. The perception that Jammu and Kashmir was an unsafe place to visit or do business in is what hurt us, not Article 370,” Omar said.

He also accused the BJP of selectively targeting Article 370 while ignoring similar constitutional protections available in other parts of the country.

“The only thing that was talked about was Jammu and Kashmir and the fact that you couldn't buy land there. That was the stick used to beat us with,” he said, referring to restrictions on land ownership that also exist in Lakshadweep and several northeastern states.

Seeking restoration of statehood, Omar said the Centre had publicly committed to a three-stage process involving delimitation, elections and restoration of statehood.

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“We had delimitation. We had elections in which people participated in record numbers. But statehood is nowhere to be seen,” he said.

Questioning repeated assurances that statehood would be restored at an“appropriate time”, Omar said there was no clarity on the criteria being used to determine such a timeline.

“My target is to achieve statehood, yet I have no idea what goals I have to achieve to reach that point,” he said.

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The Chief Minister argued that the present Union Territory arrangement limits the powers of the elected government and affects governance.

“How can I be Chief Minister without choosing my Chief Secretary, Director General of Police or Finance Secretary? What sort of government is that?” he asked.

Omar said governance and delivery of public services would improve once Jammu and Kashmir regains statehood.

“I am not using absence of statehood as an excuse. I am saying governance and delivery will be better when you give us what you promised,” he said.

Referring to the security situation, Omar said recent incidents had shown that militancy and violence could not be taken lightly, even as the people of Jammu and Kashmir had repeatedly rejected terrorism and demonstrated faith in democratic processes.

“For the first time in 35 years of violence, people came out openly against terror and against the killing of innocent people. They lit candles, marched and said this is not in our name,” he said.

The Chief Minister also invited people from southern India to visit Jammu and Kashmir and encouraged filmmakers to explore the region as a shooting destination.

“We do not get enough people from south of the Vindhyas. Tourism follows movies. We would love to see more South Indian films shot in Kashmir,” he said.

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