CM with 50 MLAs normalises Delhi’s unilateral actions of 2019: Mehbooba Mufti on Abdullah’s speech

Opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir criticize Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's speech during Prime Minister Modi's visit.

Jammu and Kashmir’s Opposition parties, including Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and J&K Peoples Conference (JKPC), on Monday (January 13, 2025) took a potshot at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s speech during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kashmir.

Posting Mr. Abdullah’s speech on X where he referred to pleasant weather during Mr. Modi’s presence in Ganderbal, former J&K CM and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said: “Difference between a short-sighted politician and a true statesman. In 2003, then BJP PM Vajpayee during his visit to Srinagar showed great faith in Mufti sahab’s vision of peace with dignity even though the PDP had a mere 16 MLAs. Today, our CM despite 50 MLAs did everything to appease and normalise Delhi’s unilateral actions in August 2019 that cleaved and robbed J&K of its special status.”

Another PDP leader and Pulwama MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra said Mr. Abdullah’s speech was that of a sycophant. “He was silent on the demand of Article 370, on which the party got 50 seats. He talked about Statehood and development narrative, which is the BJP’s narrative. It felt as if a BJP worker was talking. Mr. Abdullah even tried to change the goal post to Statehood,” Mr. Parra said.

He said Mr. Abdullah talked about weather but remained silent over “the real issue of political process, jailed youth, special status and 35A”and “reeks of betrayal”. “The speech was a complete surrender of the people’s mandate. He has tried to infuse a sense of defeat and hopelessness among people,” Mr. Parra said.

JKPC president Sajad Lone posted a clip of Mr. Abdullah’s speech to make a sarcastic remark. “Here is our CM sahib. Grinning from ear to ear. Happy. That clouds have made way for PM sahib. This clip is a gift to all those who propagated his ‘All others are BJP’ discourse,” Mr. Lone said.