In a moving address to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah declared that he would not exploit the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people, to push for the restoration of statehood to the Union Territory. "Curse be upon me if I go to Centre and push for statehood at this critical moment," he stated, visibly emotional during the special session convened to address the tragedy.

Abdullah expressed a deep sense of personal responsibility for the safety of the tourists who were killed in the April 22 attack. "I was the host of these people... It was my responsibility to send these people safely, which I was unable to do," the Chief Minister lamented. He emphasized that exploiting the horrific event to gain political leverage would be unconscionable. "Should I have no value for the 26 lives lost and go to Centre demanding statehood now? Neither business rules nor any other thing but only remembering the 26 people who died," he asserted.

The Chief Minister's National Conference has been advocating for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood to its pre-August 5, 2019 status, before the central government revoked its special status and divided the former state into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. While he affirmed that the pursuit of statehood remains a priority, he firmly rejected any notion of using the Pahalgam attack as a bargaining chip. "We have talked about statehood in the past and will continue to talk about it, but not right now," Abdullah clarified.

The assembly session saw unanimous condemnation of the terrorist attack, with members passing a resolution endorsing the diplomatic measures taken by the central government. The resolution also appealed to all states and Union territories to ensure the safety and well-being of Kashmiris across India. Farooq Abdullah, Omar's father and the president of the National Conference, stated that Pakistan's actions in Pahalgam had eliminated any possibility for dialogue.

Omar Abdullah's commitment to postponing the statehood discussion in light of the tragedy reflects a broader sentiment that prioritizes healing and solidarity over political maneuvering. He emphasized that the focus should be on condemning the attack and supporting the victims' families, setting aside political considerations for a more appropriate time.