Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has raised doubts over the Centre’s claims that "normalcy" has returned to the Union Territory after the abrogation of Article 370, asserting that the current state of affairs is not a natural outcome of peace and stability but rather the result of a heavy-handed, enforced approach. Speaking at a media event in Delhi, Abdullah emphasized that the security situation in Kashmir remains precarious, pointing to instances such as the closure of the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar on the occasion of Shab-e-Baraat as evidence that authorities still fear unrest.
Abdullah argued that for normalcy to be meaningful and lasting, it must be organic, arising from genuine social harmony and government-public cooperation rather than from tight security controls and restrictions. "If what is happening today in J&K is organic, then nothing like it. If it is driven out of fear, then there is a problem. Because you can only control a situation through fear for a limited time. If it's organic, it will remain forever. But I will hazard that the security forces and the people don't believe it is organic," he remarked. His statement casts a shadow over the Centre’s repeated assertions that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has significantly improved since August 2019, when the erstwhile state was stripped of its special status and bifurcated into two Union Territories—J&K and Ladakh.
Abdullah was responding to a question about the stark differences in security conditions between 2010, when mass protests led to the deaths of over 200 young people, and the present day. The Union government has often credited the abrogation of Article 370 for the decline in incidents of stone-pelting, separatist activities, and militancy, claiming that the decision has ushered in a new era of peace and development. However, Abdullah challenged this view, stating that the government's reluctance to allow even religious gatherings, such as Mirwaiz Umar Farooq leading the funeral prayers of his father-in-law at the Jama Masjid, is proof that the authorities themselves do not fully trust the stability they claim to have achieved.
"If they believed it was organic, they wouldn't have closed Jama Masjid to prevent Mirwaiz Farooq from having his father-in-law's namaz-e-janaza. The reason they cited was that they feared a law and order situation breaking out. A law and order situation doesn't break out when normalcy is organic, it breaks out when normalcy is forced. What we have in parts of J&K today is not organic normalcy, it is forced normalcy," Abdullah said. His words reflect a growing sentiment among several opposition leaders and political observers that the calm in Kashmir is largely a result of heightened surveillance, security restrictions, and an environment of fear rather than a voluntary acceptance of the Centre’s policies by the people.
Jammu and Kashmir lost its statehood on October 31, 2019, when it was officially converted into a Union Territory, giving more administrative control to the Lieutenant Governor, who operates under direct supervision from New Delhi. Addressing this shift, Abdullah expressed concerns over the implications of running J&K under a governance model where security measures take precedence over democratic participation and public engagement. He cautioned that such an approach has its limitations and risks alienating the local population. "Trying to run J&K through a second model, where governance will not have a role in law and order and security, will have limitations. You won't be able to carry the population as partners in normalcy," he said, implying that a lack of political representation and local decision-making could hinder long-term peace and stability in the region.
His latest remarks mark a clear departure from his recent softened stance on the Narendra Modi-led government. In the past few months, Abdullah had appeared to take a more pragmatic approach, even toning down his party’s demands for the immediate restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status—a key promise of his National Conference party. He had previously acknowledged that expecting Article 370 to be reinstated was not realistic under the current political circumstances. "I am not foolish enough to believe that the government will restore Article 370," he had said, indicating a shift in strategy that some interpreted as a willingness to work within the new political framework.
However, his latest comments suggest that while he may have moderated his expectations regarding Article 370, his broader concerns about governance and the political future of Jammu and Kashmir remain unchanged. His remarks are also likely to resonate with sections of the Kashmiri population who feel that the region’s political and administrative future has been dictated without their input. As the region moves toward elections, Abdullah’s evolving stance will be closely scrutinized, especially in the context of how opposition parties navigate their relationship with the Centre while addressing the aspirations of the people.
With no clear roadmap from the Centre regarding the restoration of J&K’s statehood or any significant political outreach, the question of whether the current stability is sustainable in the long run remains open. Abdullah’s assertion that "forced normalcy" cannot last forever underscores a broader challenge—whether peace in Kashmir can be maintained through security measures alone, or if a more inclusive and democratic approach is necessary to ensure lasting stability. His comments, therefore, not only serve as a critique of the government's policies but also reignite the larger debate about the future of governance and political engagement in Jammu and Kashmir.
