After praising PM Modi, desperate-for-statehood Omar Abdullah praises Army

Omar Abdullah praises Army amid statehood push

A day after showering praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Sonamarg Tunnel (Kashmir) for what he called “his efforts in bridging the gap between “Dil (heart) and Delhi” and holding Assembly polls in the Union Territory, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, showered praises on the nation’s Army. To be more exact, he did it on January 14, 2025. The occasion was the event organized by the Army at Tanda Artillery Brigade in the Akhnoor Sector near Jammu City to celebrate the ninth Armed Forces Veterans’ Day celebrations. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had come all the way from New Delhi to Akhnoor to participate in the event.

BJP treats Delhi and Kashmir equally

Addressing the gathering of armed forces’ veterans, Rajnath Singh emphasized that the abrogation of Article 370 had led to a process of transformation in the region. “The situation in J&K has changed drastically after the abrogation (read reading down) of Article 370, and this truth must be accepted. J&K is incomplete without Pakistan-occupied-Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), which remains the crown jewel of India…For Pakistan, PoJK is nothing more than foreign territory and the aspirations of the people of J&K have never aligned with those of Pakistan…PoJK has been exploited by Pakistan as a base for terrorist training camps and infiltration activities…The land of PoJK is being used to run the ‘business of terrorism’ and India is well aware of the launch pads created near the border…Pakistan ko inko khatm karna hi hoga, nahin to dot dot dot” (Pakistan must destroy this (these terror camps failing which…),” Rajnath Singh said.[1]

Not just this. The Defence Minister also made a very significant and meaningful statement, which suggested that the Narendra Modi government was unlikely to oblige Omar Abdullah by conceding his demand seeking full state status for J&K at the earliest. “I congratulate Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for taking the right steps to help overcome the little bit gap (which is still there)…We are treating Akhnoor or for that matter Kashmir the same way as Delhi in our hearts,” the Defence Minister, inter-alia, said.[2]

Delhi is a Union Territory. It is the Central government that controls the land and law and order machinery and it is the Lieutenant Governor who exercises vast financial and other vital powers.

Country in safe hands

And, what did Omar Abdullah say while speaking at the function? He, among other things, said: “It is payback time for the government as an expression of gratitude to the armed forces’ veterans for their ‘self-less service’ to the nation with ‘unflinching’ determination. We feel indebted as you sacrifice your present to safeguard our future and secure the nation and its citizens. Thus, as a mark of our duty, the J&K government will remain steadfast in its efforts to ensure that all benefits for Army veterans are delivered promptly and without hindrance…His government would adhere to the provision of reservation in recruitment for veterans in letter and spirit…Taking care of you is not a favour; it is our duty. Your immense contributions deserve nothing less than our utmost respect, gratitude, and support. The J&K government will continue its efforts to ensure that all benefits, including financial aid, are provided through ex-servicemen welfare schemes without delay and hindrance…You put the nation above everything else, setting aside your personal well-being and dreams for the greater good. While you protected our borders, you also gave us the priceless gift of peace. It is because of your service that we sleep soundly at night, knowing that our country is in safe hands,”.[3]

Vehement opposition to AFSPA

What Omar Abdullah said about the Army and its role and contributions was really surprising. It was all the more surprising because he had opposed tooth and nail the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) when he headed the National Conference (NC)-Congress coalition government in J&K between 2014 and 2018. And, he fought relentlessly against the AFSPA when the menace of terrorism was at its height and terrorists were blooding and convulsing the J&K’s socio-religious and political scene at regular intervals with utmost east, and under the very nose of the law and order authorities. A reference to some of his actions against the AFSPA under which the armed forces involved in anti-insurgency operations enjoy legal immunity from prosecution would be in order. Such an exercise is imperative to lay bare the disparities between what he did between 2009 and 2014 and what he said on January 14, 2025.

On March 19, 2009, Omar Abdullah said that the AFSPA, which had been in force for nearly two decades in terrorist-infested J&K, will come to an end during the tenure of his government. “I am the first Chief Minister who has assured on the floor of the state Assembly that AFSPA will be withdrawn…I can assure you that this Act will come to an end during the tenure of NC-Congress government,” Omar Abdullah had, in fact, told, media persons in Srinagar after the Army submitted its report on the killing of two youths in Bomai-Sopore (Kashmir) on February 21, 2009.[4]

On September 13, 2010, Omar Abdullah met AICC president and UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, and Home Minister, P Chidambaram, and discussed with them what he called “a crucial peace package for Kashmir.” He also pitched for the lifting of the AFSPA from “urban areas” and urged the Home Minister to amend the Act to make it “more humane”[5]. He met Sonia Gandhi and P Chidambaram a day before the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).

On December 2, 2010, Omar Abdullah wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, complaining against the Army’s public criticism of him and his government and consistent interference in policy issues related to the state. “I don’t want to respond to this (statement) publicly,” he said[6]. The Army had criticized the Omar Abdullah government for removing bunkers from certain areas in Srinagar, Kashmir.

On November 13, 2011, Omar Abdullah met Defence Minister A K Antony. The meeting came a day after A K Antony said that the “decision on the removal of AFSPA would be taken by the Unified Command in J&K and not by the Chief Minister.” The stand of the Defence Minister had so rattled and provoked Omar Abdullah that he, among other things, said: “I do have the authority. The elected state government of any state has the authority. In this case, the authority rests with the Governor, who would act on the basis of recommendations from the state government. This was further cemented by what the CCS has said, and also what the Union Home Minister has said even in recent media interviews. So, I don’t think it is anybody’s case, least of all the Army’s, that the state government doesn’t have the authority.”[7]

The very next day, he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram and insisted that AFSPA must be withdrawn from certain areas.[8]

On March 25, 2013, the Omar Abdullah government constituted two committees to examine the phased withdrawal of the AFSPA from different parts of J&K. “The state government has constituted two committees, one for Kashmir and another for Jammu province, to examine the issue of phased withdrawal of AFSPA from districts that have witnessed significant decrease in militancy related activities and seen sustained peace,” Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Kichloo, said.[9]

On April 5, 2013, Omar Abdullah, inter-alia, said: “If I had to select two points, it would be one, the phase-wise revocation of the AFSPA and two, the return of NHPC (National Hydroelectric Power Corporation) power projects to the state…Even wearing a watch had become a matter of life and death in the Valley because forces wanted people to set Indian Standard Time (IST) while separatists asked for setting Pakistan time on watches.” He made these statements in New Delhi while participating in the Mindmine Summit 2013.[10]

On May 7, 2024, the out-of-power Omar Abdullah tore into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief and former Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, and accused her and her party of hatching a conspiracy against his government. “I had tried to send them (Army) back to the barracks in 2012-2013. At that time, the conspiracy was hatched by the party (PDP). Today, they are talking about sending the Army back to the barracks. It is good. Better late than never,” he, inter-alia, said while attacking the PDP leadership. [11]

Army, not the master

Not only Omar Abdullah, his father, the NC president and the then Union Minister of Renewable Energy, Farooq Abdullah, had also jumped on his son’s anti-AFSPA bandwagon. On November 27, 2011, he went to the extent of making some highly outrageous statements. Denouncing the Army for opposing the withdrawal of what he called the “draconian” AFSPA from parts of J&K, he said the Army was not the master of the state.

“(The) army is not our master. Just remember that. The people of J&K are the masters of their state…It did not matter if the Army and the Central government disagreed. It is the wishes of the people that matter and if the people feel that things are better, then let’s give them that. They (Army) said if the bunkers go, there will be no safety. The bunkers were removed and the people are able to breathe safely. People are walking safely…The Army’s job is to protect the borders. They have to guard the border so that the infiltration doesn’t take place. It is their job. Rest the local police, the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) are ready to handle (the situation),” Farooq Abdullah, who had been the Chief Minister of the state thrice in the past, told Karan Thapar in “Devil’s Advocate” on CNN-IBN news channel.[12]

Generals’ opposition

The Army Generals all through opposed the demand of Omar Abdullah seeking withdrawal of the AFSPA. On November 13, 2011, Lt. General KT Parnaik, Commander of the Northern Army, said: “AFSPA is an enabling Act to counter-terrorist operations. It has also to be seen in the context of the proxy war. Pakistan continues to have its proxy infrastructure. Until we remove the terrorists fully, it’s not time to partially revoke the AFSPA.”[13]

On April 16, 2012, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 15 Corps, Srinagar, Lt. General S A Hasnain, said that the “Army was against any move of revocation of the AFSPA from any part of J&K.” The same day, in the national capital, New Delhi, Army Chief, General V K Singh, also reiterated this view, saying “the Army’s stance on the AFSPA is known to everyone.” The Army’s stance came in the wake of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram’s statement that the “AFSPA should be partially withdrawn.”[14]

On March 15, 2013, the Army Chief, General V K Singh, made a comprehensive statement on the issue. He said that the time was not ripe for the removal of the AFSPA from J&K emphasising that any decision on this should not be politicised.

“We only make recommendations. If I were to be asked, I would say that the time is not right at the moment to tamper with this enabling Act. We should not take away the AFSPA at the juncture…It is important to observe the situation and it is important to understand the security contours of the situation before we take a decision. The decision should be a pragmatic one, it should be in the national interest and it should not be politicized,” he, among other things, said. The Army Chief made these statements at the India Today conclave and these were made when asked to comment on the Union Minister Farooq Abdullah’s demand for removal of the AFSPA from J&K.[15]

Manmohan Singh’s divided cabinet

The demand for the withdrawal of the AFSPA had divided Manmohan Singh’s Cabinet. The Prime Minister was for making the AFSPA “humane”. A report in The Economic Times (Sep 9, 2020) in this regard read like this: “The CCS will meet in a day or two to consider amending the AFSPA to make it more ‘humane’. The CCS will also consider partial withdrawal of the Act from certain areas of J&K…Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had, in a recent interaction with BJP leaders, hinted at making the Army’s powers under AFSPA less sweeping. Accepting that there were two views of AFSPA…these might now be reconciled in favour of a milder Act.”[16]

Home Minister P Chidambaram had also on occasions openly and unambiguously sided with Omar Abdullah and supported his demand for withdrawal of the AFSPA from certain areas/ districts in J&K. On September 1, 2011, he had, inter-alia, said: “I am trying to revisit AFSPA but as you know one needs to build a consensus within the government before amendments can be brought before Parliament…We are trying…”[17]

However, it was Defence Minister, A K Antony, who consistently made a common cause with the Army. On September 11, 2010, the Defence Minister disapproved of the proposal mooted by the J&K Chief Minister to withdraw the AFSPA from four districts as “it would affect the confidence of the armed forces, which were already managing in very difficult circumstances.” His contention, according to a report, was that “either the AFSPA should be enforced in the entire state or removed entirely.” “Antony was of the view that just as common people were entitled to self-defence, the same right rested with the Army and they were also entitled to defend themselves,” the report also said.

The same report further said: “Antony gave this brief to the Congress Core Committee which met…to discuss the law and order situation in the state and to deliberate on Omar Abdullah’s request to the Prime Minister to find a solution and bring back peace in the Valley, which has in recent times been torn apart by violence…It is learnt that there were differences between the senior Congress leaders on what was the best way forward. The differences were there, particularly between Home Minister P Chidambaram and Defence Minister Antony, who was obviously articulating the views and feelings of the army when he spoke at the meeting.”[18]

Earlier on February 18, 2011, the Defence Minister had also dismissed demands for the withdrawal of the AFSPA from J&K, saying infiltration attempts were still continuing and terrorists could not be given any “opportunity to succeed” there. “Militancy has come down substantially but, at the same time, our feedback is not giving us comfort. Attempts for infiltration are still continuing…We cannot take any step that will give an opportunity to militants to succeed there,” he had said.[19]

Demand for Omar Abdullah’s dismissal

The stand of the main Opposition, BJP, on the AFSPA and the demand of Omar Abdullah, were on expected lines. It consistently attacked the NC-Congress coalition government and opposed the demands seeking withdrawal of the AFSPA. On September 12, 2010, the BJP even went to the extent of demanding the removal of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. In fact, that day, the BJP held a meeting at the residence of former Deputy Prime Minister and the party’s veteran, L K Advani, to discuss the whole issue. The meeting was held ahead of the “crucial meeting” of the CCS to discuss Omar Abdullah’s demand.

After the meeting, the BJP issued a statement. It is, inter-alia, said: “The unpopular Chief Minister, who is completely alienated from the people, needed to be replaced by a person who is more ‘acceptable’…The Centre (Manmohan Singh-led UPA Government) is pursuing vote bank politics in seeking to trim the coverage of AFSPA, thus raising the political cost for the Congress to limit the applicability of the law whose dilution has been opposed by the armed forces…”[20]

Desperation for restoration of statehood

The manner in which Omar Abdullah praised the Prime Minister and the Army only served to indicate his desperation for the restoration of statehood. And, what he said during an interview with India Today on January 17, 2025, was yet another attempt by the desperate-for-statehood Omar Abdullah.

What did he say during the said interview? He, among other things, said: “Working with the government at Centre led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi doesn’t mean ‘I accept everything they do’…There is no need to pick a fight with the Centre where there isn’t a need for one. ‘It is unnecessary to pick a fight with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA Government at the Centre when there is not the need for one. I believe that having pragmatic relations with the Centre is key to ensuring progress and development in J&K.’ Look if push comes to shove, then that will inevitably happen. Why does one have to start on an antagonistic note? The fact is that when I met the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, they were very sort of forthright in saying that the people have spoken, that the mandate has to be respected, and that they will support and assist the government to the fullest extent. So when they haven’t left any scope for antagonism, why should I pick a fight where one is not necessary? Going ahead, if it comes to that, then we’ll see. But that situation hasn’t arisen,” he said.

And, when asked about the restoration of Statehood, Omar Abdullah said: “If we are agreed that J&K needs to progress, that development needs to take place; that statehood needs to be restored. I don’t resort to fight where at the moment there isn’t the need for one.”[21]

The whole truth is that Omar Abdullah is desperate for the restoration of statehood and that’s the fundamental reason behind his please-the-Narendra Modi government-approach.

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] J&K Incomplete Without PoJK, Says Rajnath Singh; Warns Pakistan On Terror Camps – Jan 14, 2025, Daily Excelsior

[2] BJP govt treats Delhi, Kashmir equally: Union Minister Rajnath Singh – Jan 14, 2025, The Economic Times

[3] It’s payback time for Govt as gratitude to veterans, soldiers’ families: CM Omar – Jan 15, 2025, Greater Kashmir

[4] AFSPA to end during my Govt’s tenure: Omar Abdullah – Mar 20, 2009, The Hindustan Times

[5] J&K: Omar meets Sonia, Chidambaram to discuss AFSPA – Sep 13, 2010, NDTV News

[6] Omar writes to PM against Army’s criticism, interference – Dec 2, 2010, Indian Express

[7] Armed Forces Special Powers Act: Omar meets AK Antony – Nov 13, 2011, NDTV News

[8] Omar meets PM, Chidambaram over AFSPA issue – Nov 14, 2011, Rediff

[9] J&K forms panels for withdrawal of AFSPA – Mar 26, 2013, The Deccan Herald

[10] AFSPA top on Omar’s wish list – Apr 6, 2013, Daily Excelsior

[11] Mehbooba Mufti opposed withdrawal of AFSPA from J-K when I was CM: Omar Abdullah – May 7, 2024, The Print

[12] If CM decides AFSPA has to go, it must go: Farooq – Nov 28, 2011, The Hindustan Times

[13] Armed Forces Special Powers Act: Omar meets AK Antony – Nov 13, 2011, NDTV News

[14] Army opposes Omar’s demand for AFSPA revocation from Jammu and Kashmir – Apr 16, 2012, India Today

[15] Time not ripe for revoking AFSPA – Mar 16, 2013, The Hindu

[16] Govt may make AFSPA humane – Sep 9, 2010, The Economic Times

[17] I am trying to revisit AFSPA: Chidambaram – Sept 1, 2011, The Economic Times

[18] Antony, Chidambaram clash over AFSPA withdrawal in J&K – Sep 11, 2010, Rediff

[19] Antony dismisses demands for withdrawal of AFSPA from J-K – Feb 18, 2011, Indian Express

[20] BJP demands Omar’s removal, opposes dilution of AFSPA – Sep 12, 2010, The Times of India

[21] No need to pick fight when there is no need’: J-K CM Omar Abdullah on relations with Centre – Jan 17, 2025, Greater Kashmir

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