National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah stated on Monday, September 22, 2025, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should have prioritized discussing the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood during his recent address to the nation.
Prime Minister Modi’s Sunday evening address, delivered on September 21, centered on highlighting the advantages of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms, which officially took effect the following day, Monday, September 22, 2025.
Addressing reporters in Srinagar, Mr. Abdullah remarked, ‘While you focused on GST, it would have been more beneficial to discuss the restoration of our statehood during your speech.’
When questioned about the National Conference’s optimism regarding a favorable Supreme Court ruling on the statehood issue – with a petition scheduled for hearing in the second week of October – Mr. Abdullah affirmed that every resident of Jammu and Kashmir harbors hope for its restoration.
He emphasized, ‘It’s not merely the National Conference; everyone shares the hope that our statehood will be reinstated.’
Pivoting to the case of JKLF chairman Yasin Malik, the former Chief Minister of the erstwhile state reiterated that the decision rests solely with the courts.
He clarified, ‘The courts are the arbiters; they will make the judgment. We play no part in that process.’
Malik, currently serving a life sentence for terror funding, was apprehended in February 2019 and is implicated in various other cases, including the abduction of Rubaiya Sayeed and the 1990 assault on IAF personnel at Rawalpora.
Mr. Abdullah characterized the current governance system in Jammu and Kashmir as ‘walking on a razor’s edge,’ underscoring its inherent fragility and challenges.
He added that despite the precarious situation, ‘we must navigate it and cannot retreat.’
Addressing the detention of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik, the NC president acknowledged that while the legislator’s language in Doda was improper, invoking the Public Safety Act (PSA) against him was an unjust measure.
Mr. Abdullah elaborated, ‘Malik’s choice of words was certainly inappropriate and unparliamentary when directed at an officer. However, applying the PSA was also incorrect. This issue could have been resolved through dialogue, a path that was unfortunately not taken.’
Nevertheless, he noted that the elected government lacks the authority to revoke the PSA.
He concluded by stating, ‘That authority does not rest with us; it lies with the Lieutenant Governor.’