Statehood Takes Centre Stage as Omar Abdullah Defends Mirwaiz Invitation

What are you doing? Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday strongly defended the National Conference (NC)’s decision to invite Kashmir’s chief Muslim cleric and Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) president Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq to the protest planned to be held on July 20 at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

Dismissing the criticism sparked by the move, Abdullah claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was deliberately creating a controversy to divert attention from the core issue of the agitation – the restoration of J&K’s statehood.

The Prime Minister maintained that the demonstration was not intended to serve as a platform for political conflict but as a broad-based democratic movement aimed at fulfilling repeated assurances regarding restoration of statehood to J&K. He said that in order to build the broadest possible consensus around the demand, the NC had launched a comprehensive outreach campaign and expanded invitations across the political and social spectrum, including political parties, religious leaders, civil society representatives, business organizations and other stakeholders.

Responding to objections specifically regarding the invitation to Mirwaiz Umar, Abdullah said there should be no controversy in inviting a prominent religious leader who represents a significant section of the society in J&K. Describing social assistance as part of an inclusive strategy, he said the movement aims to unite different segments of society around a common constitutional and democratic goal. According to Abdullah, the restoration of the state is an issue that transcends political affiliations and ideological divides and concerns every resident of J&K.

Accusing the BJP of creating controversy, the Prime Minister said the debate should focus on the Union Government’s commitment to restore the state and not on who was invited to the protest. He argued that attempts to shift public discourse towards the Mirwaiz invitation were aimed at distracting from the larger political issue that remained unresolved since J&K was reorganized as a Union Territory in 2019.

While the NC invited almost all major political formations in J&K, including the BJP, Congress, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Apni Party and People’s Conference, it also reached out to national and regional parties across the country, irrespective of their political leanings. Invitations were also extended to religious organizations, business associations and civil society groups. Drawing attention to the last three-hour consultation meeting attended by approximately 170 representatives from various sectors, Abdullah said that there was unanimous support for the immediate re-establishment of the state.

However, the BJP reacted strongly to the NC’s decision to invite Mirwaiz Umar, accusing the party of indulging in political theater and displaying a persistent tendency towards what it called “soft separatism”. BJP leaders argued that by inviting a leader associated with the political legacy of the Hurriyat Conference, the NC had revealed its willingness to accommodate separatist sentiments under the guise of mainstream political campaigning. The party portrayed the move as an anti-national compromise and questioned the NC’s political intent behind giving the Mirwaiz a major role in the effort to mobilize the people.

Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly Sunil Sharma and other BJP leaders flatly rejected the invitation and announced a complete boycott of the proposed protest. They argued that the restoration of the state was a matter that could only be decided by Parliament and not by what they called “eyewash” demonstrations at Jantar Mantar. The BJP alleged that the NC was trying to create unnecessary drama despite the Centre’s repeated assurances about the eventual restoration of the state.

Adding another layer to the evolving political debate, Mirwaiz Umar stated that the movement should not be limited to just the demand for statehood. He argued that a meaningful political decision for J&K should include the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, as well as other constitutional guarantees that were revoked following the August 2019 amendments. His words further sharpened political divisions; critics argue that these statements reveal a broader agenda behind the mobilization, while supporters argue that they reflect long-standing political ambitions in the region.

The July 20 protest, scheduled to coincide with the Monsoon Session of Parliament, is expected to be the NC’s most significant political mobilization on the statehood issue. Through its nationwide outreach campaign, the party aims to build a broad coalition of regional parties, national political leaders, civil society groups, business organizations and religious representatives across the country.

While the NC insists that the demonstration is aimed at intensifying pressure on the Union Government to fulfill its commitments and restore J&K’s statehood, the BJP continues to accuse the party of reviving old political narratives and legitimizing elements linked to separatist policies. As the date draws closer, the protest is shaping up as a political showdown over both the future status of J&K and the competing narratives surrounding the post-2019 political landscape.