Farooq Abdullah demands J&K statehood bill be introduced in Monsoon Session

NC chief Farooq Abdullah has urged Parliament to introduce and pass a Jammu and Kashmir statehood bill in the Monsoon Session. He said restoring statehood is essential to honour democratic rights and long-pending assurances.NC chief Farooq Abdullah said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had waited long enough and described the restoration of statehood as a constitutional and democratic necessity.National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Friday called for a bill to restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir to be introduced and passed during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. Repeating the party's long-standing demand, he asked the Centre to honour its repeated commitments and move the legislation without further delay.In a statement, Abdullah said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had waited long enough and described the restoration of statehood as a constitutional and democratic necessity. He also praised the Omar Abdullah-led government for its response to the challenges caused by the recent spell of bad weather in the Union Territory."People of Jammu and Kashmir have waited long enough. The restoration of statehood is not merely a political demand but a constitutional and democratic imperative," he said.The three-time Chief Minister said Parliament must use the opportunity to fulfil the government's assurances made repeatedly to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and restore their democratic rights and dignity without any further delay. Abdullah also commended the elected government for what he described as its "prompt, compassionate and hands-on" response to the situation arising from the recent inclement weather in the Union Territory.He said the government's swift intervention and continuous monitoring had provided timely relief to affected people and reflected its commitment to public welfare. He appreciated Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for personally overseeing relief and restoration work, carrying out field visits, reviewing the situation with the civil administration and ensuring that rescue, rehabilitation and essential services were restored at the earliest.The National Conference chief urged all party legislators, functionaries and workers to remain on the ground, stay in close touch with the people and extend every possible assistance to those affected."This is the time to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our people. Public service is the essence of our politics, and every party representative must ensure that grievances of the affected families are promptly brought to the notice of the administration and addressed without delay," he said.Abdullah's statement combined a renewed push for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood with an appeal for continued relief and assistance for people affected by the recent bad weather.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Jul 24, 2026 22:08 IST