Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Aug 19: After triggering a debate over restoration of J&K’s statehood, National Conference vice-president and former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah seems to have once again gone into hibernation.
Omar Abdullah after breaking his silence over Centre’s decision to revoke J&K’s special status seems to have gone back into his shell. “It appears that NC leaders don’t want to cross the line as they don’t want to end up in trouble again,” a politician told Precious Kashmir.
It may be recalled that soon after Centre announced its decision to revoke J&K’s special status on August 5, 2019, more than 40 mainstream leaders, including three former chief ministers—Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti—were placed under detention. Most of the leaders were released after serving six month detention or less, but Mehbooba Mufti continues to remain detained under Public Safety Act at her Gupkar residence in Srinagar.
Omar Abdullah had remained silent after his release but broke the lull after writing an Oped in a national daily in which he had stated that he won’t contest the assembly elections till J&K remains a Union Territory. His statement stirred a Hornet’s nest within his party as his close aide and NC chief spokesman Aga Ruhullah tendered his resignation from the party stating that “NC top leadership has accepted the change in J&K’s status-quo.”
After Ruhullah’s resignation, Omar went into damage control mode and said that besides restoration of statehood his party wants J&K’s special status back. He even lashed out at journalists for what he said “misinterpreting” his statement.
On the first anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2020, National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah had called an all party meeting of regional parties at his residence in Srinagar but authorities didn’t allow the meeting to take place and since then NC has not made any significant attempt to make its presence felt.
An analyst said, “It appears that most of the regional parties in Kashmir have realized that the Centre is no mood to give anything back so it’s no point making noise. After remaining in detention mainstream leaders in Kashmir have come to know that they don’t enjoy any impunity. It seems that leaders are in no mood to annoy the Centre. When these leaders were released the speculations were rife that they have assured the administration that they won’t indulge in any activity which could lead to a law and order problem. Omar Abdullah and others remaining silent is no surprise.”
