Srinagar, October 18: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday reaffirmed his commitment to revoke the Public Safety Act (PSA) immediately after the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, calling it a crucial pledge of the National Conference (NC) manifesto. Speaking at a crowded press conference in Srinagar, Omar stated that his administration would not wait for legislative formalities but would issue an ordinance to scrap the PSA as soon as the region regains statehood. Omar Abdullah’s remarks signal a renewed political assertion amid mounting public debate over constitutional and administrative autonomy in Jammu and Kashmir. Since the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the former state into two Union Territories in August 2019, the demand for restoring full statehood has remained a major political issue. Omar Abdullah emphasized that many commitments made by his party could only be realized after the return of statehood because law and order remain under the Lieutenant Governor’s control in the current Union Territory (UT) structure. “When we unveiled our manifesto, I made it clear that several promises can only be fulfilled once we have our own statehood back. Security and policing are not in our jurisdiction at the moment. Once we regain full powers, the first order of business will be to revoke the PSA,” he declared. He reiterated that the PSA has been widely criticized for misuse, allowing preventive detention without trial for extended periods. Human rights organizations have long described the law as draconian. Omar stated that its abolition would be a step toward “restoring public confidence and safeguarding civil liberties” in the region. Dismissing rumors of a possible political understanding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Omar Abdullah categorically ruled out any alliance. “The National Conference will not repeat the mistakes of 2015,” he said, referencing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-BJP coalition government that collapsed in 2018. “We have already witnessed the disastrous consequences of that experiment. Jammu and Kashmir continues to suffer because of it. We will not enter into any arrangement that compromises our principles.”
Omar also challenged the BJP to clarify its stance on statehood, suggesting that the party should publicly state whether restoration depends on who governs the UT. “If statehood is conditional on having a BJP government, they should be transparent about it. Otherwise, people will know what they are being denied and why,” he added, noting that no such precondition was ever stated in Parliament or official BJP documents. The Chief Minister disclosed that he had sought advice from legal experts regarding the possibility of joining the petitions pending before the Supreme Court concerning the restoration of statehood. “I am the only person who has served as Chief Minister of both a State and a Union Territory. That experience gives me a unique understanding of the shortcomings of the UT model. If my participation in the case helps our people, I will not hesitate to become a party to it,” he stated. Omar expressed cautious optimism about the Supreme Court’s eventual decision but rejected linking security incidents, such as the Pahalgam terror attack, to the delay in restoring political rights. “It’s unfair to connect these two. None of the people involved in that attack were from Jammu and Kashmir. We cannot keep punishing our people for incidents that have no local roots,” he said. Referring to the Parliament’s assurance in 2019 that the transition would involve three steps—delimitation, elections, and statehood—Omar pointed out that two stages have already been completed. “Now, it’s time for the third. People have waited long enough. Elections alone do not fulfill the promise of democracy; statehood completes it,” he asserted. The Chief Minister argued that the UT framework weakens democratic institutions, as many powers rest with unelected administrators. “Even the appointment of an Advocate General, which is the constitutional right of an elected government, has been obstructed. We appointed one soon after taking charge, but he has not been permitted to function. This undermines the very concept of elected governance,” he said.
Administrative and Governance Challenges
Omar Abdullah lamented that bureaucratic hurdles under the UT system continue to affect governance efficiency. He described how the absence of coordination between the elected administration and the bureaucracy results in conflicting decisions. “There are two parallel systems running in the same place — one elected and one unelected. When these systems contradict each other, the people suffer,” he remarked. He added that the NC government would seek administrative reforms to ensure that decisions taken by the elected leadership are not overridden by bureaucratic authority. “The Lieutenant Governor’s office must return to an advisory role once we regain statehood. Elected representatives should have the final say in governance,” he stressed. Commenting on the ongoing protests in Ladakh, Omar called it “deeply regrettable” that assurances made at the time of bifurcation—particularly Sixth Schedule protections for tribal and cultural rights—had not been implemented. “The people of Ladakh have been forced to take to the streets because their genuine aspirations were ignored. Do we want to push the people of Jammu and Kashmir to that point?” he asked. Omar also urged parity in domicile and employment laws between Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. “Both regions emerged from the same constitutional process in 2019. There should be uniform treatment, not selective autonomy,” he said. On the November 11 Assembly by-polls, the Chief Minister confirmed that the National Conference had offered the Nagrota seat to its ally, the Congress, as part of the ongoing seat-sharing understanding. “We want to strengthen our alliance with the Congress in Jammu. Supporting them in Nagrota is a step toward consolidating the secular front,” he said. He further mentioned that the party would announce its candidate for the Budgam seat within two days. The Budgam constituency fell vacant after Omar Abdullah resigned to retain his Ganderbal seat, while the Nagrota constituency was left vacant following the death of BJP legislator Devinder Singh Rana. Omar Abdullah also addressed the tourism sector, emphasizing its critical role in supporting thousands of families across Jammu and Kashmir. He criticized the prolonged closure of several destinations since the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, arguing that the move was counterproductive. “Even during the peak of militancy, places like Doodhpathri, Drang, and upper Gulmarg remained open. Now, when the situation has comparatively improved, closing these sites sends the wrong message. It suggests insecurity and discourages visitors,” he said. Omar pointed out the mixed signals coming from the administration, where the elected government promotes tourism while bureaucratic wings impose restrictions. “This contradiction damages our image. Tourists are confused when one part of the administration talks of peace and another acts as if we’re still under siege. Such dual narratives hurt local livelihoods,” he explained.
Despite expressing frustration with the current administrative setup, Omar Abdullah maintained that his party remains committed to peaceful democratic processes. He urged the Centre to accelerate the return of full political and constitutional rights to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “Our people have shown patience and resilience. The least they deserve is a functioning democracy with accountability. We are not demanding anything extraordinary—just what was promised in Parliament,” he said. He also thanked the Centre for its support in certain development projects but underscored that political rights must complement economic initiatives. “You cannot build trust with infrastructure alone. Political representation and autonomy are equally essential,” he noted. Omar Abdullah’s announcement about scrapping the PSA once statehood is restored is seen by many as a strategic move to regain public confidence ahead of the next full Assembly elections. Analysts believe that the National Conference is positioning itself as the primary voice for restoring autonomy while balancing national engagement. By directly linking the revocation of PSA to the restoration of statehood, Omar Abdullah has drawn a clear distinction between elected governance and bureaucratic rule. His message resonated strongly among party cadres, who view it as a reassertion of the NC’s core ideology—empowering the people through constitutional safeguards. As Jammu and Kashmir awaits a definitive word on statehood from New Delhi, Omar’s statements reflect the growing impatience among political stakeholders. The coming months may determine whether promises of restoration, reconciliation, and revival can translate into tangible policy shifts that reshape the region’s political landscape. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s commitment to revoke the Public Safety Act upon the restoration of statehood underscores a broader call for democratic revival and administrative clarity in Jammu and Kashmir. His clear stance against alliances with the BJP, emphasis on completing the political process, and focus on restoring governance authority to elected representatives highlight the ongoing struggle between autonomy and central control. Whether this promise becomes a reality will depend not only on the restoration of statehood but also on the Centre’s willingness to trust the democratic aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
