Diplomat Correspondent
Jammu, (DD Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, accusing it of dismantling the historical unity of Jammu and Kashmir by bifurcating the erstwhile state into two Union Territories. Speaking during the motion of thanks to the Lieutenant Governor’s address in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, the National Conference (NC) leader refuted allegations that his party had altered the historical names of institutions, instead turning the spotlight on the BJP’s decision to break up the state founded by Maharaja Hari Singh.
“SMGS Hospital is still SMGS Hospital, SMHS Hospital remains SMHS, and Hari Singh High Street retains its name. We didn’t change anything. But what did you do? You sliced the Maharaja’s state into two,” Omar said, his words resonating across the House.
The reference was clear—while the NC has often been accused of rewriting history, the BJP’s move to abrogate Article 370 and downgrade the state to two Union Territories was, in his view, the real act of erasure.
“What Changed After Article 370?”
Taking a dig at the BJP’s grand claims of post-370 transformation, Omar questioned whether the region had truly witnessed the kind of dramatic change that was promised in 2019.
“You claim everything changed after August 2019. But was development not happening before? It was, and it still is. Was there no corruption before? There was, and it continues even today,” Omar remarked, challenging the BJP’s assertion that Jammu and Kashmir had turned into a model of governance after the special status was revoked.
He pointed out that roads, hospitals, and universities had been built long before 2019, and development was not something that started after the abrogation of Article 370. At the same time, he dismissed the idea that corruption had been eliminated, arguing that it was still deeply entrenched in the system.
“Who Stops You from Retrieving PoK? But Reclaim Kashmir Under China Too”
Shifting his focus to BJP’s nationalist rhetoric, Omar Abdullah questioned the party’s frequent assertions about reclaiming Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
“You keep claiming that you will retrieve PoK. Who is stopping you? Go ahead. But while you talk about PoK, don’t forget the land in Ladakh that China has occupied. Why not reclaim that too?” Omar challenged, calling out the party’s selective posturing on territorial integrity.
His remarks come amid ongoing tensions between India and China, with reports of Chinese incursions in Ladakh continuing to raise concerns.
A Fiery Debate, An Unsettling Question
Omar Abdullah’s speech was not just a critique of BJP’s policies but also a reminder of the complex realities that remain unchanged despite political grandstanding. While BJP has often framed Article 370’s revocation as a historic victory, the NC leader brought the debate back to the ground, questioning what had tangibly improved for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
As the Assembly session progressed, his words left an unsettling question in the air—what really changed, and at what cost? (DD)
