Srinagar: Omar Abdullah, vice-president of the National Conference, announced that his party would approach the Indian Supreme Court if the Indian government does not restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, signaling a potential legal showdown over the region’s autonomy.

According to Kashmir Media Service, during a press interaction in Srinagar, Abdullah expressed his party’s resolve to reclaim the region’s former status. “The reality is that we have a fight on our hands to get our powers back and we have no doubt that we will succeed. At the very least, in the first instance we will get statehood back for J-K,” he stated.

The NC leader outlined a strategy to remind the Supreme Court of previous commitments made by the Indian government regarding the restoration of statehood. He suggested that legal action would be taken if these commitments were not voluntarily honored by the government. “We only have to go as far to remind the Supreme Court that the government of India has promised the SC that statehood will be restored to J-K. In the unlikely event that the GoI is not willing to do it on its own will, we will go to the SC and we will get justice from there,” Abdullah added.

Responding to questions about the National Conference’s stance on Article 370, which was abrogated by the Modi government in August 2019, Abdullah emphasized a continued political struggle. Despite the Supreme Court’s recent upholding of the government’s decision, he referenced historical precedents where the Court had upheld Article 370 multiple times and hinted at the possibility of a future reversal. He drew a parallel with the BJP’s persistence following previous unfavorable rulings, underscoring his party’s determination not to concede after a single adverse decision.

Abdullah also reflected on the lessons learned from recent parliamentary polls, suggesting that the National Conference’s situation was more promising than some critiques suggested.