Archive · 15 Aug 2026
PoK Would Have Rejoined J&K If Statehood Not Scrapped: Abdullah
Omar Abdullah is the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, a region in India.
On India's Independence Day, he gave a speech in a city called Srinagar.
He talked about a nearby area called Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, or PoK.
He said many people there have been hurt or jailed for asking for their rights.
Abdullah believes those people would have wanted to rejoin Jammu and Kashmir.
But he said that became harder after the Indian government removed Jammu and Kashmir's special status and statehood in 2019.
He remembered his grandfather, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, the region's first Prime Minister.
His grandfather helped protect Kashmir from attackers in 1947, even before the Indian Army arrived.
Abdullah also said India's democracy and federal system are its greatest strengths.
He promised his government will keep working to restore Jammu and Kashmir's statehood.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said people of PoK would have risen for reintegration into J&K if statehood and special status had not been scrapped in 2019.
Speaking at the Independence Day function in Srinagar, he said the situation in PoK has vindicated Kashmir's 1947 decision to join India.
He paid homage to his grandfather, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who led Kashmiris against Pakistani tribal raiders in 1947.
Abdullah reiterated his government's commitment to restoring J&K's statehood and constitutional guarantees, revoked in August 2019.
He also called for strengthening federalism, opposed central agency interference in state matters, and said state institutions should conduct their own examinations.
- Who
- Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
- What
- Claimed people of PoK would have risen for reintegration into J&K if statehood and special status had not been scrapped in 2019; reaffirmed commitment to restoring statehood and constitutional guarantees; called for strengthening federalism.
- When
- Saturday, at the Independence Day function
- Where
- Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
- Why
- To honour Kashmir's 1947 decision to join India, express concern over the situation in PoK, and reaffirm the pledge to restore J&K's statehood and constitutional guarantees.
- Speaker
- Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
- Event
- Independence Day function
- Location
- Srinagar
- Date
- Saturday (Independence Day)
- Key claim
- People of PoK would have risen for reintegration into J&K if statehood and special status had not been scrapped in 2019
- 2019 changes
- J&K's statehood and special status revoked in August 2019
- PoK situation
- Dozens killed, scores injured and jailed for demanding democratic rights
- Government pledge
- Restore statehood and constitutional guarantees to Jammu and Kashmir
