TRAP: Desperate Omar Abdullah

Unimaginable shift in Kashmir’s subversive politics

No one had ever imagined that even this could happen in Kashmir’s subversive politics, but it did happen. The case in point is what desperate, powerless, power-hungry, anti-Dogra Jammu and protagonist of greater autonomy Omar Abdullah said on January 2, 2025, at the Kashmir International Conference Centre (KICC) in Srinagar during his first media interaction after taking over as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister on October 16, 2024.

On August 13, 2023, the J&K Lieutenant-Governor’s (L-G) administration dropped the title ‘Sher’ (lion), a reference to the late National Conference (NC) founder, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, from the name “Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre” (SKICC) located on the bank of the Dal Lake in Srinagar. It was built in 1977.

What Omar Abdullah said, inter-alia, read like this: “The martyrs (read anti-Dogra Jammu Kashmir-based radical Islamists) of 13th July (1931) and (his grandfather) Sheikh Abdullah Sb do not need a holiday to remember their legacy. Almost everything we do is a part of it…”[1]

What he said also read like this: “The place (KICC) where we are sitting was visualized by my grandfather (Sheikh Abdullah). This place is his legacy. His great legacy does not depend on a holiday on December 5. His reform of ‘land to the tiller’ will remain alive in the hearts of farmers. When they will till their land, they will remember him…The sacrifice of July 13 martyrs can’t be weighed by a holiday.”[2]

What Omar Abdullah said was totally different from what the NC chief spokesperson and MLA, Tanvir Sadiq, said on December 30, 2024, and what Omar Abdullah’s political Advisor, Nasir Aslam Wani, declared on December 31.

Tanvir Sadiq had, among other things, said: “Today’s list of holidays (which didn’t say that July 13 and December 5 will be public holidays) and the decision (to this effect) reflects the BJP’s disregard for Kashmir’s history and democratic struggle (read Kashmiri Muslims’ struggle for freedom from Jammu) …While we had hoped for the inclusion of holidays commemorating leaders like Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and the martyrs of July 13th, their absence does not diminish their significance or our legacy…”[3] As for Nasir Aslam Wani, he had declared that “next December 5 will be observed a holiday and the decision of the same will be taken before Dec 5.” “The decision is under consideration and will be finalized soon,” he had also said.[4]

On the other hand, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) excluded July 13 and December 5 from the holiday list as an opportunity to prick, taunt, and denounce the NC, its bitter political foe. On January 1, it tore into the Omar Abdullah government for what it described as a “lack of seriousness” in fulfilling its promises, particularly “its failure to reinstate two significant holidays in the annual holiday calendar of J&K.” Besides, it accused the NC of “neglecting” what it called “issues of importance” and disregarding “Kashmir’s historical legacy”, despite having a strong public mandate”.

In fact, explaining what it called the “emotional and historical importance” of July 13, it said: “The people of Kashmir still remember the martyrs of July 13 by heart, but unfortunately, the NC government has failed to make efforts to restore the holidays for Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and July 13…Their honour was overlooked. They (NC) are in the government, but they are the ones issuing condemnations after these two holidays were again dropped from the list…The PDP’s commitment to Kashmir’s historical and cultural legacy remains steadfast in upholding the values of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and those who sacrificed their lives. Everyone was hopeful that these holidays, which were annulled, would be restored. However, the NC government has failed to deliver on these expectations.”[5]

The reaction of the BJP, the main opposition party in J&K, was on expected lines. On December 31, the J&K BJP appreciated the decision of the L-G administration to maintain the status quo in the list of public holidays. “The firm stand taken by the L-G and ignoring the parochial demand is really praiseworthy…Both the holidays were mired in controversy and were thrust upon the people of the other two regions (Jammu and Ladakh) of the erstwhile State by the NC. Incidentally, December 5 was never a State holiday between 1948 and 1981 and was declared a holiday to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah after he died in 1982 by his son and successor Farooq Abdullah… Nothing can be more controversial and divisive than celebrating July 13 as a state holiday with full government support. While it was celebrated as Martyrs Day in Kashmir and as a Black Day by the Hindus in Jammu, including the Kashmiri Pandits, to protest against the plundering of their properties in Kashmir by members of the majority community and also endangering their dignity, honour, and lives. It is high time the NC shunned the politics of exclusivity and embraces inclusivity by giving equal respect and status to the Dogra heritage and sentiments,” the BJP said.[6]

It needs to be underlined that both the holidays were scrapped by the L-G administration after August 5, 2019, when Article 370 was read down, Article 35A was abrogated and J&K divided into two Union Territories, Union Territory of J&K and Union Territory of Ladakh. Not just this, the L-G administration had also declared the Accession Day (October 26) and birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh (September 23), who had acceded his Princely State to the Indian Dominion on October 26, as Public Holidays.

The question to be asked is: Why did Omar Abdullah say what he said about the exclusion of July 13 and December 5 from the holiday list? The answer is not far to seek. The answer is that he is desperate for restoration of statehood. And, to achieve his immediate goal he has been seeking to cultivate Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah since November 9, 2024, by asking the NC ministers, legislators, and leaders to maintain calm for a few months and not create a situation that would cause delay in the restoration of statehood.

Omar Abdullah’s statements on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and One Nation One Election, which were totally different from those of his ally, the Congress, further established that he had been working as per a canny strategy devised to please and mislead the South and North Blocks.

Besides, his January 2 statement made during the press conference that his government did not approach the courts and went to the Centre with the resolution on the restoration of statehood to avoid confrontation with the Centre also cannot be ignored. He had said: “Simply going to court will be a fight. A fight should never be the first option, it should be the last option. If the Supreme Court had not spoken about the restoration of statehood, if the Prime Minister and Home Minister had not spoken about it, then we could have gone to court. They have made promises and we have to give them a chance first.”[7]

At the same time, Omar Abdullah had also said: “The NC manifesto was based on a 5-year term. That said, we are aware we are certain time frames that we are supposed to adhere to. Some of the things we had promised – the resolution for statehood, resolution for special status, and constitutional guarantees…But the bigger cause is the protection of our lands and jobs for ourselves and not the internal fight…Even if we were to say the Kashmir issue has been resolved, what about the part across LOC on the other side? Is that resolved too? The issue remains[1].” And, what he said in unequivocal terms clearly and unambiguously suggested what his government would do after the restoration of statehood.

Will the Narendra Modi government walk into Omar Abdullah’s trap and empower it to undo the August 2019 reforms? It must not. Instead, it should limit the area of strife to Kashmir Valley by granting state status to Jammu and further defeat Kashmir jihad by converting Kashmir into a Chandigarh-type Union Territory. There is no other option.

Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.

Reference:

[1] key Takeaways from J&K CM Omar Abdullah’s Press Conference Today – Jan 2, 2025, Rising Kashmir

[2] Omar defends Sheikh’s legacy, dismisses holiday debate – Jan 3, 2025, Greater Kashmir

[3] NC, CPI(M) Flag Excluding Sheikh Abdullah’s Birth Anniversary, July 13 From Holiday List – Dec 30, 2024, Daily Excelsior

[4] Next Dec 5 to be observed as holiday: Advisor to CM – Dec 31, 2024, Greater Kashmir

[5] Govt lacks seriousness in fulfilling promises: PDP – Jan 2, 2025, Daily Excelsior

[6] BJP lauds Govt decision for status quo in holiday list-2025: Brig Anil Gupta – Jan 1, 2025, Daily Excelsior

[7] PM Modi should be given ‘first opportunity’ to restore statehood instead of going to courts, says Omar – Jan 3, 2025, Indian Express

For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.

The post TRAP: Desperate Omar Abdullah appeared first on PGurus.