Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed optimism on Tuesday about the restoration of statehood to the Union Territory, following a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“The Union Home Minister visited Jammu and Srinagar recently. I had a good meeting with him. I am hopeful that Jammu and Kashmir will regain the status of a state,” Abdullah told reporters.
His remarks come nearly five years after the Central Government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, revoked Article 370 in August 2019. The move stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special constitutional status and bifurcated the region into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
High-Level Security Meeting
Abdullah’s statement follows a recent visit by Amit Shah to the Union Territory, where the Home Minister chaired a high-level security review. The meeting focused on the law and order situation in the region amid ongoing political and legal developments.
Although there has been no official commitment from the Centre about restoring full statehood, Abdullah’s meeting with Shah has sparked renewed discussions on the issue.
Legal Challenge
The National Conference, led by Omar Abdullah, has also moved the Supreme Court to challenge the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which came into effect on April 8.
“We have approached the Supreme Court. We will see what the court decides on it,” Abdullah said when asked about the party’s position.
The new law has drawn widespread criticism, with several political and religious organizations expressing concerns over its potential impact on the administration of Waqf properties.
Widespread Opposition
A wide range of petitioners have already challenged the Act in the Supreme Court. These include:
- AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi
- Congress MPs Mohammad Jawed and Imran Pratapgarhi
- AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan
- Azad Samaj Party President Chandra Shekhar Azad
- Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq
- Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani
- Samastha Kerala Jamiatul Ulema
- Indian Union Muslim League
- Social Democratic Party of India
- Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR)
These groups argue that the amendment infringes on community rights and autonomy in managing religious endowments.
Awaiting Judicial Review
With multiple challenges pending before the Supreme Court, the fate of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, now lies with the judiciary. Meanwhile, Omar Abdullah remains cautiously optimistic about Jammu and Kashmir’s political future, particularly regarding its status as a full-fledged state.
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