Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has intensified his demand for the restoration of statehood by sharing a satirical social media post styled after US President Donald Trump's distinctive online messaging. The post, which was not authored by Trump but mimicked his writing style, humorously praised Abdullah's campaign for statehood and ended with a call to "make Jammu and Kashmir GREAT AGAIN." Responding to the spoof post, Abdullah wrote, "If only!", underscoring his frustration over the continued delay in restoring the Union Territory's statehood.
The development comes days after Abdullah announced the National Conference's "Chalo Delhi" campaign, beginning on July 20, to press the Centre for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood. Addressing party workers on Sunday, he questioned whether the demand would have to be taken beyond India's borders if it continued to remain unresolved. "Should we go to President Trump's White House to seek our statehood? If we can't get justice in our own country's capital, tell us where we should go," he remarked, using the statement to highlight his dissatisfaction with the pace of progress.
Abdullah said his government and party had exercised patience since returning to power following the 2024 Assembly elections, the first elections held after Jammu and Kashmir's special status was revoked and it was reorganised into a Union Territory. He noted that the National Conference had given the Central government nearly two years to fulfil its commitment to restore statehood. According to the Chief Minister, the time had now come to launch a public campaign to renew pressure on the issue.
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The Chief Minister's latest remarks represent a noticeable shift from the optimism he expressed in January 2025, when he said he believed Prime Minister Narendra Modi would soon fulfil the promise of restoring Jammu and Kashmir's statehood. With no official timeline announced by the Centre since then, Abdullah has adopted a more assertive political approach, arguing that prolonged delays have left his party with little option but to organise protests and public demonstrations.
The proposed "Chalo Delhi" programme will mark the National Conference's first major public protest since returning to power in Jammu and Kashmir. Party leaders have indicated that the campaign is intended to remind the Central government of its repeated assurances regarding statehood and to mobilise public support for the demand. The issue remains one of the National Conference's principal political commitments following its electoral victory.
The Central government has consistently maintained that Jammu and Kashmir's statehood will be restored at an "appropriate" time but has not specified a timeframe for doing so. As political pressure mounts, the debate over the future constitutional status of the Union Territory continues to remain a key issue in regional politics, with the National Conference seeking to keep the matter at the centre of public and political discourse.
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