Former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reiterated his demand for restoring J&K’s statehood during a visit to Gujarat aimed at reviving tourism after April’s Pahalgam terror attack. He criticized J&K’s 2019 downgrade to a Union Territory, saying, “Others were upgraded from UTs to states, while we lost our statehood.” Abdullah argued that an elected government needs full powers, including security control, to govern effectively, citing his 2009-2015 tenure when militancy declined.
The Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 tourists, initially devastated Kashmir’s tourism sector, with Srinagar’s daily flights dropping from 50-55 to 15-16. Abdullah noted recovery to 30-35 flights, crediting the ongoing Amarnath Yatra (3.75 lakh pilgrims) for boosting numbers. He reassured tourists that recent anti-militancy operations occurred in remote areas, not tourist hubs.
In Gujarat, Abdullah inaugurated a tourism fair and visited the Statue of Unity. Reflecting on the Sardar Sarovar Dam’s success in transforming arid regions, he lamented Kashmir’s inability to implement similar projects due to Indus Water Treaty restrictions. With the treaty now under review, he suggested J&K could develop water infrastructure to address electricity and irrigation needs if constraints ease. His remarks underscore the political and developmental challenges facing J&K amid ongoing security concerns and stalled statehood restoration promises.
(Source : KDC)
