Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has written to the presidents of 42 political parties, including Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, urging them to press the Centre to bring a legislation in the monsoon session to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. In a letter dated July 29, Abdullah stressed that this issue goes beyond regional politics and touches the core values of the Indian Constitution and democracy. He warned that downgrading a state to a Union Territory sets a 'profound and unsettling' precedent and crosses a constitutional boundary that should never have been breached.

Abdullah's appeal for statehood comes as the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 approaches. On August 5, 2019, the Centre abrogated Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and divided it into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Abdullah's efforts also align with the growing demands from various political parties in J&K, including the Peoples Democratic Party, Congress, CPI(M), J&K Peoples Conference, J&K Apni Party, and Awami Ittehad Party, all advocating for the restoration of statehood and special status.

In his letter to the political parties, Abdullah expressed that the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory in August 2019 was presented as a “temporary and transitional measure”. He cited repeated public assurances from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including a promise made in Kashmir earlier this year, which he referred to as “Modi ka Wada”. Abdullah also mentioned the Centre's commitment before the Supreme Court to restore statehood. However, he criticized the delay, arguing that terms like 'at the earliest' or 'as soon as possible' cannot be stretched indefinitely.

Abdullah has challenged the rationale behind the removal of Article 370, which he said was justified in the name of equality. However, this principle has not been applied equally. He criticized the current administrative setup as imbalanced and ineffective: a Union Territory with a legislature, but without real power. He said that officials from the Centre can overrule the decisions of the elected government, which weakens democracy. He added that the elections lose meaning if the government chosen by the people is not allowed to function.

Abdullah stated that the restoration of statehood is not a concession to Jammu and Kashmir but a course correction by the central government. He said that the very idea of India is undermined if statehood, which is a foundational and Constitutional right, is reduced to the discretionary favor of the central government. He added that the denial of statehood is not something that has been imposed on any other region in India; in fact, the historical trajectory has always been from Union Territory to State, not the reverse.