Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah addressing a press conference in Srinagar on October 18, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday (October 18, 2025) disputed the Centre’s claim made before the Supreme Court that it was “holding consultation with the elected government” to restore Statehood to the Union Territory (UT). He also pledged to do away with the controversial Public Safety Act (PSA), dealing with preventive detention, once Statehood is restored.

“I read about it. I heard it for the first time when the statement was made before the Supreme Court. There has been no formal consultation so far,” said Mr. Abdullah, who addressed the media in Srinagar as part of the completion of one year of his government.  

On October 10, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court, which was hearing petitions on the restoration of Statehood, that the Centre and the Mr. Abdullah’s government were in consultation.

Mr. Abdullah said his party was mulling over filing a petition on Statehood. “We will take a decision after proper legal advice,” the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said.  

Replying to a question on the promises made in the manifesto, Mr. Abdullah said, “We will not even wait for an Assembly session. The moment Statehood is restored, our government will revoke PSA through an ordinance,” Mr. Abdullah said.

Mr. Abdullah also ruled out any move by his government to make the Cabinet Sub-Committee’s report on reservations public, which was constituted to address the current reservation policy of 60:40 between reserved and open merit categories. 

“It is not only impropriety but bordering on illegality to release the information. The report, in the form of a Cabinet memo, will be sent to the Lieutenant Governor for approval. I am the last person who can be pressured. We are not going to bypass the procedure just because somebody thinks they can exert pressure,” Mr. Abdullah said.

Senior National Conference (NC) leader and Member of Parliament Aga Ruhullah Mehdi is among those who demand that the Cabinet report be made public and shared with stakeholders by October 19. 

“Before any call is taken on the Budgam by-election, the Reservation Sub-Committee Report must be made public and shared with stakeholders by tomorrow,” Mr. Ruhullah had said, in a post on X. The future decision will be guided by the contents of the report. 

Mr. Ruhullah, a popular Shia leader, is key for the NC to win the Budgam by-elections. Mr. Abdullah’s party is yet to name the candidates for Budgam or Nagrota seats so far. However, he said the NC was ready to extend support to the Congress in Nagrota constituency, “if the party decides to contest from there”.

Published – October 18, 2025 11:00 pm IST