Omar Abdullah Faces Backlash Over Remarks on Article 370 in IIOJK

Omar Abdullah’s recent comments on Article 370 have sparked controversy in IIOJK, as critics accuse him of betraying his earlier promises and endorsing a harsh approach toward Kashmiris.

Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), has come under fire for his recent remarks regarding the revocation of Article 370. Despite holding the title of Chief Minister, real power in the region lies with Delhi-appointed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Omar Abdullah’s statement, made during a recent media interview, claimed that pro-freedom activities had declined following the revocation of Article 370, a narrative aligned with the Indian government’s justification for its controversial action.

This statement has faced severe backlash from various political figures and local leaders in the region. Many see it as a retreat from the promises Omar made to the people during his election campaign. Abdul Waheed Para, a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), sharply criticized Omar, pointing out that the decline in pro-freedom activities is not a sign of peace but a result of draconian laws and heavy-handed measures imposed on the people of IIOJK.

Para took to social media to express his dissatisfaction, stating, “If Kashmir appears peaceful today, it is due to UAPA, PSA, NIA, property seizures, constant profiling, and other oppressive tactics.” He further accused Omar of shifting away from his campaign promises, labeling his recent remarks as an endorsement of the Indian government’s iron-fist approach to IIOJK.

Para also highlighted the harsh measures taken against the Hurriyat camp, including the ban on Hurriyat and Jamaat-e-Islami, which he believes are significant factors contributing to the silence in IIOJK. These actions, Para argues, have led to a suppression of dissent, and the apparent calm in the region is a direct result of these repressive policies.

In addition to Para, Peoples’ Conference chairman Sajjad Ghani Lone also criticized Omar Abdullah, accusing him of contradicting his own body language with his statements. Lone suggested that Omar’s recent remarks were at odds with the stance he took in his earlier campaigns, further fueling the controversy.

The criticism highlights growing dissatisfaction among local leaders and the general population in IIOJK, who feel that the region’s autonomy and their rights have been undermined by both the revocation of Article 370 and the continued use of force to suppress dissent.