Srinagar: Reiterating the demand for statehood, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said discussions are ongoing with legal experts to explore whether an alternative strategy should be pursued, ahead of the Supreme Court hearing scheduled for October.
Addressing the media, CM Abdullah emphasized that the dialogue on restoring statehood has not stopped. He also expressed gratitude to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar for his support.
“I am especially thankful to Sharad Pawar sahab, who recently sent a commendable letter to the Prime Minister regarding the promise of reinstating Jammu and Kashmir as a state. I had requested all leaders during the recent Parliament session to support us in this matter,” he said.
Recalling his remarks from August 15, Abdullah added, “I was hopeful that the Prime Minister would fulfill this promise on Independence Day. It did not happen, but our fight continues. I am consulting lawyers because the case will be heard in the Supreme Court in October. Currently, the private parties empanelled in the case are pleading. We are exploring whether another strategy needs to be formulated.”
On August 5, 2019, the Centre revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcated the former state into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir (with a legislature) and Ladakh (without a legislature). On August 14, 2025, the Supreme Court heard a plea seeking directions for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, noting that the ground situation and events in Pahalgam must be considered before granting statehood.
Separately, the CM addressed the long-delayed Sawalkote power project, acknowledging the impact of political delays on its progress. “The Sawalkote power project was stalled due to politics, and now rising costs have made it difficult to restart. Nonetheless, we are committed to completing it, as it will generate over 1,100 megawatts of electricity, significantly boosting power supply in Jammu and Kashmir,” Abdullah said in Srinagar.
