Srinagar: Omar Abdullah, Vice President of the National Conference, has interpreted the recent Assembly election results in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir as a decisive rebuff of the central government’s revocation of the region’s special status under Article 370.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Abdullah, in a media interview, elaborated on the electoral mandate, stating, “The mandate indicates that the people did not support that decision. If they had, the BJP would have emerged victorious. The majority of the population in Jammu and Kashmir has not endorsed what transpired on August 5, 2019, and that is a fact.” He articulated the clear message sent by the voters against the actions taken by New Delhi in 2019, which saw the abrogation of the special provisions granted to the region.

While Abdullah recognized the unlikelihood of reversing the revocation of Article 370 under the current Modi administration, he affirmed the National Conference’s commitment to continue advocating for this cause. “They are the ones who took it from us. It’s a long battle, but we will keep the issue alive while also focusing on other important matters,” he noted, indicating a dual approach to both address immediate concerns and maintain the long-term goal of restoring Article 370.

Regarding the restoration of statehood, Abdullah expressed optimism and urgency, emphasizing that statehood should be reinstated without turning into a contentious or conflict-driven issue. “I believe statehood is a right for Jammu and Kashmir and should be granted. I hope it won’t become a contentious issue, and that statehood is restored without conflict,” he said, highlighting his hope for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing political challenges in the region.