NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has bluntly termed the dual governance model in the Union Territory — where he shares power with the lieutenant governor — a “recipe for disaster”, as he urged the Centre to keep its promise and restore statehood to the region at the earliest.
In his first sit-down interview since assuming office in October, Abdullah expressed cautious optimism over the Centre’s commitment to restoring J-K’s statehood, citing repeated promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah during election campaigns.
The chief minister’s candid remarks underscore the complex political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir, and the difficulties in pushing for a more defined and unified administrative leadership by virtue of getting statehood.