Srinagar, September 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday accused the Lt Governor-led administration of “orchestrating” threats to Kashmiri Pandits as part of an alleged conspiracy to prevent the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters in Anantnag, Abdullah questioned the source of the reported threats and asked why senior government and police officials posted in the Union Territory were not facing similar threats.
“Who is issuing the threats? Kashmiri Pandits hardly reside here now. All the top officers posted here are Hindus from outside. The DG, DIGs, SSPs are all Hindus, right?” he said.
“The deputy commissioners are also Hindus. Why aren’t they receiving threats? The question is: if Hindus are being threatened, why aren’t they (senior officers) facing threats?” Abdullah said.
He alleged that the reported threats were part of a conspiracy to deny statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and create an atmosphere of fear.
“This is a conspiracy with the sole objective of denying statehood to J&K. An atmosphere of fear is being created,” Abdullah said, questioning how such threats could persist when Central government leaders were claiming that peace had returned and militancy had been eliminated from the region.
Abdullah said Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, who oversees security in Jammu and Kashmir, should explain the source of the threats. “I am accusing the administration of issuing these threats. They are responsible,” he said.
On the NC’s protest in Srinagar against the delay in restoring statehood, Abdullah said Jammu and Kashmir was passing through a “difficult phase” and accused the Centre of failing to honour its assurances.
He recalled that the Centre had indicated that delimitation would be followed by elections and restoration of statehood. He also referred to a January meeting between NC MPs and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying they had been assured that Business Rules would be approved within days.
“That was in January. It is September now. What happened to that promise?” he asked.
Without naming the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abdullah also criticised the party he accused of helping the BJP revoke Article 370 and Article 35A.
“Our enemies are sitting right among us — those who disrupted the entire map of J&K, got (Article) 370 revoked, got (Article) 35A revoked. Today, they talk about statehood and Article 370. But they were the ones who dismantled it,” he said.
Asked whether he wanted to appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for restoration of statehood, Abdullah said there was no need for such an appeal as the Prime Minister already knew the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“It is his promise. He had said that ‘it is Modi’s promise’, that ‘I will restore statehood’. So why do I need to appeal?” the NC president said.
The remarks came a day after the NC and BJP held separate protest marches in Srinagar. NC leaders demonstrated against the Centre over the delay in restoring statehood despite assurances by the Union Home Minister and the position taken by the government before the Supreme Court.
BJP leaders, meanwhile, accused the NC government of “failure on all fronts”.
Police and security forces intercepted both marches, preventing the NC protesters from reaching the BJP headquarters in Jawahar Nagar and the BJP protesters from proceeding towards the Civil Secretariat in the Batmaloo area.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah subsequently accused the police of using force against NC protesters, while alleging that “cold drinks” were provided to those participating in the BJP protest.
FOLLOW NOW
