Congress Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari has voiced strong support for Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s sharp criticism of the Union Territory’s dual governance system, labeling it “systemically and structurally built for failure” in a post on X on Saturday, August 16, 2025. Abdullah, during his first Independence Day speech since resuming office, denounced the non-restoration of statehood, describing the current administrative framework as designed “not for success” but for failure, and highlighted stalled decisions at Raj Bhavan.
Tewari, drawing from his experience as an MP from Chandigarh—a Union Territory without a legislative assembly—empathized with Abdullah’s frustration. “This system of diarchy is a completely unworkable model of governance,” Tewari wrote, comparing it to the limited administrative setups in Puducherry and Delhi. He argued that the dual structure, split between the elected government and the Lieutenant Governor, inherently obstructs effective governance.
Speaking at Bakshi Stadium, Abdullah launched a signature campaign to demand the restoration of J&K’s statehood, expressing disappointment over unfulfilled assurances of change. “I was told documents were being prepared… The ray of light has started to fade,” he said, referencing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address that offered no progress on the issue. Defiant, Abdullah rejected helplessness, vowing to challenge the status quo.
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Abdullah also criticized Chief Justice of India BR Gavai’s reference to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack in statehood discussions, calling it “unfortunate.” He questioned, “Will the killers of Pahalgam and their masters in the neighboring country decide whether we will be a state?” Abdullah argued that allowing terrorism to derail statehood perpetuates injustice, emphasizing, “Why are we being punished for a crime in which we had no role?”
The debate underscores growing tensions over J&K’s governance, with Tewari’s endorsement amplifying Abdullah’s call for structural reform and statehood restoration.
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