Omar Abdullah, the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir UT, expressed his feelings in a function in Delhi in response to a question from a journalist: Peace in Jammu and Kashmir is not organic but is forced. He said during Shab-e-Baraat, when historical Jamia Masjid Srinagar was closed down, that the security situation in Kashmir was way far from normal. JK Chief Minister said that "after the abrogation of Article 370, normalcy in the Union Territory was not organic but forced." He argues that the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir remains precarious despite claims of normalcy. He epitomized this evidence by referencing the requirement of CRPF protection for Mirwaiz Umar Farooq as one of the pieces of evidence of the underlying tensions that indicate a 'forced normalcy' as opposed to a genuine peace. On February 27, Omar said that, more than five years after the abrogation of Article 370, the security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir is far from normal.
Abdullah said that the peace in the UT, as loudly claimed by the BJP government at the centre, is not organic, but forced, citing examples in support of his contention. He said this in response to a question on the current/recent reduction in shutdowns and separatist and militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Omar Abdullah was in the mire of criticism from opposition parties for his remarks at a recent news conference. He had said that after the abrogation of Article 370 by the PM Narendra Modi-led government in 2019, a lot had changed in the Valley. The Chief minister also echoed and said separatist activities have reduced in the Valley post-Abrogation of article 370 in 2019. Omar Abdullah, in the interview, stated, "could you ever imagine that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq - a separatist leader would be provided CRPF cover? I could not". And this put Omar into a storm of criticism for his remarks about the security cover of separatist leader, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
Opposition in J&K linked the statements of the National Conference leader, accusing him of having to make a U-turn on the electoral promises raised during 2024 polls. It would also be in good taste to mention in this context that the Modi led NDA government at the Centre had increased the security cover for Mirwaiz after reviewing the threat perception that has gone up after his New Delhi visit. Reports verified that he was assigned members of the CRPF specially trained for such close protection. Sarcastically, Omar said that on other occasions, the situation in J&K ''changed after abrogation of Article 370, which provides special status to valley''. The CM attributed the changed situation to ''the reduction in separatist activities'' in Jammu and Kashmir. According to him, it was unimaginable that the centre provided CRPF cover to the Hurriyat Chairman but it became possible after the changed situation. Now, there is contradiction is what Omar says. He says that the situation has improved and changed after the scrapping of Article 370 in August 2019. But at the same time, he argues that the claims of the BJP government and its leaders about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir have improved after the abrogation of Article 370 in the Constitution in 2019 are untrue. The journalist asked him what he made of the reduced separatism in Jammu and Kashmir; he lost his temper. In an angry voice, Omar Abdullah fumed and fumbled at the same time. Amit Shah, Union Home Minister, said in Delhi on February 24 while addressing a function,'' There is peace in Jammu and Kashmir, and this peace has to be permanent''. This was, however, not agreed to by Omar. Omar said, "You can only pull a situation together for a certain time against those who fear authority." People-centre believed it to be organic; hence, didn’t close down Jamia Masjid in Srinagar and allow Mirwaiz to take part in the funeral prayers of his father-in-law. This is because they feared a law-and-order situation might arise.
A law and order situation will out when normalcy is not organic. It breaks out when normalcy is forced. And therefore, what you have in Jammu and Kashmir today is forced normalcy, as stressed by Abdullah. So as per the Chief minister there is no sign of normalcy and peace in Kashmir. Abdullah also cited Mirwaiz’s CRPF cover as an indicator that the situation in the UT is not normal. Abdullah further said that Mirwaiz’s security is again an indicator that things are not normal in J&K. The government is protecting Mirwaiz under CRPF cover and all this show that situation is far from normalcy in J&K. The recent incidents of Kathua Killings also revealed that the ground situation is not feasible and there is fear and anger among the people in Kathua district due to killings and abductions. Abdullah further faced backlash for his remark linking separatist leader Mirwaiz’s CRPF security cover to the improved situation in the union territory after the abrogation of Article 370.According to Omar the fact that Mirwaiz has to be protected by the same commandoes that protect your national leaders like the home minister, Rahul Gandhi and others.. So yes, halaat badle hain-yes things have changed, but for good is another matter, "he said. Thus there is contradiction in the arguments about the security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir post abrogation of Article 370.
Simultaneously, Omar makes different statements. Instead of issuing any more statements here and there, Omar should now get down to brass tacks about delivering on the promises made in the polls and take sincere steps for the welfare of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. These people decided to put their faith and trust in NC and Omar Abdullah, so now it's time for the NC government to wipe the tears off from people's eyes and stop blaming the NDA government for all the evils and wrongs of the state. Therefore, instead of superficial talks and blame games, the new government under Juan Abdullah should rather focus on its priorities and deliver upon its promises made during elections, or else the gullible would be cheated and will certainly give a curse to the new government. Thus, without wasting its time and energy on non-issues, it should try to address the important problems and issues facing the people of Jammu and Kashmir just so the people can see that the NC-Congress coalition was concerned with their welfare. The democratic administration under the lead of Omar Abdullah should present themselves as popular, democratic, and different from the LG's administration with less of a connect with the real masters – the people who are the real sovereigns of a democracy. The executive head of the government would not put further trust and hope in the Good Transparent Government into question; temper tantrums and fumbles will only put them in a negative light.
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