Omar Abdullah Journeys to Delhi to Join NC’s Statehood Rally

On a cool morning in Srinagar, Omar Abdullah, the former chief minister and a veteran face of the National Conference, packed his bags and set off for Delhi. He wasn’t heading there for a routine meeting – the plan was to stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with party workers who have been staging a sit‑in outside the central government’s offices, pressing for the return of full statehood to Jammu & Kashmir.

The convoy, modest but lively, wound its way through the valley’s winding roads, peppered with well‑wishers and a few curious onlookers. Abdullah, who has spent the last months shuttling between political rallies and media briefings, used the journey to underscore a simple message: the people of the valley still feel the pain of the 2019 revocation of Article 370, and they want their voice heard in New Delhi.

Once in the capital, the former chief minister is slated to join a gathering of National Conference leaders, activists, and ordinary citizens who have been camping outside the Ministry of Home Affairs for several days. The protest, which began earlier this month, seeks not just the restoration of the special status that was stripped away, but a full-fledged statehood that would give Jammu & Kashmir its own legislative assembly and greater autonomy.

Abdullah told reporters that his presence in Delhi is symbolic – a sign that the party’s senior leadership stands firmly with the grassroots movement. He added that the next steps would involve discussions with central authorities, hoping that a dialogue can replace the dead‑locked standoff that has lingered for years. As the rally gains momentum, all eyes are on whether this high‑profile participation can push the demand for statehood higher up the political agenda.