By Ananya Sharma 
New Delhi, October 1: The past few days have been a storm for Omar Abdullah. The Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir has found himself defending his stand on protests, dismissing the idea of teaming up with the BJP, and accusing the Centre of dragging its feet on statehood. It all comes after yet another incident of firing in Ladakh, which has only made the atmosphere more tense.
Protests Off The Table
When reporters asked him if he was ready to take people onto the streets for statehood, Abdullah didn’t even pause. No, he said. Not happening. His reason was blunt: the forces stationed in the region are quick to fire, and he isn’t willing to risk people’s lives for a march.
That remark may sound cautious, even pragmatic, but in Kashmiri politics, caution is often misinterpreted as weakness. People here remember decades of protests, curfews, and funerals. Abdullah wants to avoid adding more to that history. Whether his base sees restraint as leadership or as hesitation is a different matter altogether.
No To BJP, Even If It Costs Him
Then came the question of the BJP. Would he consider joining hands with them if that’s what it took to restore statehood? Abdullah’s reply was sharper this time: “If it comes to that, take my resignation.”
It was the sort of soundbite that travels quickly. To many in his party, it was necessary to draw a hard line where ambiguity could have been dangerous. But it also locks him in. Delhi is in the BJP’s hands, and if it refuses both protests and partnership, its options narrow dramatically.
Anger At The Centre
Abdullah has also directed his fire at Delhi, accusing the Modi government of punishing the people of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh because the BJP lost ground here electorally. “Because they lost, we are being punished,” he said.
It is not a new argument, but it is a cutting one. Many Kashmiris believe Delhi is deliberately stalling the process of restoring statehood, dangling promises without deadlines. Abdullah’s attack plays into that sentiment. Outside the Valley, though, critics might call it just another grievance-ridden charge.
Trouble From His Own Party
As if that weren’t enough, Abdullah faced public criticism from within his own National Conference. Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, the party’s Srinagar MP, accused the government of losing touch with people’s concerns and compromising on principles.
For a party that usually presents unity during tough times, this was no small crack. Insiders say discontent has been brewing, with some NC leaders frustrated at what they see as passivity while Delhi keeps stalling. Abdullah, for now, has stayed quiet, probably hoping not to fan the flames.
A Word On Democracy
On another front, Abdullah also spoke out against the detention of Mehraj Malik, an AAP legislator from Doda, under the Public Safety Act. He warned that such actions would only deepen public distrust in democracy.
The statement was more than sympathy for an opposition MLA. It was also a way for Abdullah to claim the mantle of defending democratic values at a time when institutions in J&K feel weaker than ever.
Stuck Between Patience And Pressure
Put it all together, and Abdullah’s politics right now look like a balancing act that may not hold. He refuses to agitate on the streets because he fears it will end in blood. He refuses alliance with the BJP because he knows it would destroy his base. He rails against the Centre but has no leverage to force Delhi’s hand. And within his own party, murmurs of dissatisfaction are getting louder.
For ordinary residents of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, the debate is simpler: it has been six long years since statehood was taken away, and there’s still no timeline for its return. Every “appropriate time” from Delhi feels like another delay. Every “wait a little longer” from Srinagar feels like another excuse.
Omar Abdullah is trying to keep his footing. But the ground under him is shifting, and in Kashmir, when patience runs out, leaders don’t get much warning before they find themselves swept aside.
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- Ananya Sharmahttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ananya/
- Ananya Sharmahttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ananya/
- Ananya Sharmahttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ananya/
- Ananya Sharmahttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ananya/
Kavita Iyer