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Statehood promise unfulfilled, wounds unhealed seven years after Article 370
A long time ago, a region in India called Jammu and Kashmir had a special rule called Article 370.
That rule gave the region some extra powers that other parts of India did not have.
Seven years ago, on August 5, 2019, the Indian government took that special rule away and split the region into two parts.
Some people were very sad about this and wanted their special rule back.
The leader of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, said the people's wounds have not healed yet.
He said the government promised to give the region's special status back but has not kept that promise.
Mr. Abdullah's party held peaceful marches called protests to ask for the special rule to return.
Police stopped one of these marches in the city of Srinagar, and other marches happened in Jammu and other towns.
But not everyone was sad — some people in the region celebrated the day.
They said the change gave everyone equal rights, so the same day made some people happy and others sad.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the people's 'wounds have not yet healed' and the Centre's promise to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir remains unfulfilled seven years after Article 370's abrogation.
The BJP-led central government abrogated Article 370 and Article 35A on August 5, 2019, bifurcating the erstwhile state into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
National Conference workers led by Minister Sakina Itoo protested across the region, but police stopped their march outside the party headquarters in Srinagar.
PDP protesters led by Iltija Mufti were also stopped by police in Srinagar, with Mufti accusing the police of 'doing real terror' against peaceful protesters.
The BJP held victory rallies hailing the abrogation as a historic milestone, while West Pakistani refugees and Valmiki community members celebrated with the Tricolour and sweets in Jammu and Samba.
- Who
- Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah (National Conference); NC workers led by Minister Sakina Itoo and PDP leaders led by Iltija Mufti, who protested; Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and BJP MLA Yudhvir Sethi, who took a different view; and leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Sajad Lone and M Y Tarigami, who condemned the 2019 decision.
- What
- The seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A, marked by protests demanding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's special status and statehood, and by counter-celebrations hailing the 2019 decision as the end of a 'discriminatory system'.
- Where
- Omar Abdullah spoke in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district after visiting flood-ravaged areas; protests were held in Srinagar, Jammu and district headquarters across Jammu and Kashmir, while BJP rallies took place in Jammu, Srinagar and Anantnag.
- When
- Wednesday, August 5, 2026, exactly seven years after the abrogation on August 5, 2019.
- Why
- To mark the anniversary — demonstrators pressed for the restoration of rights and statehood they say were stripped in 2019, while the BJP and some communities celebrated what they describe as Jammu and Kashmir's integration with the Indian mainstream.
Supporters of abrogation (BJP-led Centre)
Critics of abrogation (NC, PDP and allies)
Meaning of August 5, 2019
Supporters of abrogation (BJP-led Centre)
The BJP-led Centre says the abrogation ended the 'discriminatory system' in Jammu and Kashmir and was a historic milestone marking the region's integration with the Indian mainstream.
Critics of abrogation (NC, PDP and allies)
NC, PDP, People's Conference, CPI(M) and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq call it a brutal, systematic assault that disempowered the people and unilaterally altered the region's constitutional status.
Police conduct at protests
Supporters of abrogation (BJP-led Centre)
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said he 'did not see' any demonstrations when asked about the NC and PDP protests.
Critics of abrogation (NC, PDP and allies)
PDP leader Iltija Mufti said police stopped the party's peaceful march in Srinagar, accusing the police of 'doing real terror' and of snatching away the right to protest peacefully.
Impact on communities
Supporters of abrogation (BJP-led Centre)
West Pakistani refugees and Valmiki community members celebrated the abrogation in Jammu and Samba, saying it ended decades of discrimination and brought equal rights, education and employment opportunities.
Critics of abrogation (NC, PDP and allies)
Critics such as CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami say a sweeping crackdown on political activity and democratic expression continues, while Sajad Lone called August 5 a day of 'disempowerment' for J&K.
Key facts
- Event
- Seventh anniversary of Article 370 abrogation
- Anniversary date
- Wednesday, August 5, 2026
- Abrogation date
- August 5, 2019
- Provisions abrogated
- Article 370 and Article 35A
- Post-2019 status
- Bifurcated into Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
- Unfulfilled promise
- Restoration of statehood to the Union Territory
- Setting of CM's remarks
- Surankote tehsil, Poonch district, after visiting flood-ravaged areas
- Counter-celebrations
- BJP victory rallies in Jammu, Srinagar and Anantnag; West Pakistani refugees and Valmiki community in Jammu and Samba
Quotes
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and leader of the National Conference
“"Our wounds have not yet healed. We had hoped that some of the pain would be addressed and that the promise of restoring statehood would be fulfilled. But today marks seven years since August 5, 2019, and that promise remains unfulfilled."”
freepressjournal.in
theprint.in
thestatesman.com
theprint.in
““Seven years, we haven’t forgotten and we haven’t reconciled far less accepted our current circumstances. My party and I remain committed to reversing all that was done to J&K that took away our rights and threatens our identity.””
thestatesman.com
American poet Robert Frost
Author of the poem 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening'
““The woods are lovely, dark & deep. But I have promises to keep. And miles to go before I sleep…””
theprint.in
Sources
'Our Wounds Have Not Yet Healed, Statehood Promise Remains Unfulfilled': CM Omar Abdullah On 7 Years Of Article 370 Abrogation | VIDEO
Wounds unhealed, statehood promise unfulfilled: JK CM Omar on 7 years of Article 370 abrogation
Seven years after Article 370 abrogation, CM Omar says J&K’s ‘wounds’ yet to heal
Omar Abdullah says ‘wounds not yet healed’ as J-K marks seventh anniversary of Article 370 abrogation
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