Omar Abdullah Criticizes Dual Power Centres in J&K, Denounces UT Status

By A Staff Reporter

Srinagar: In a candid interview with PTI, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah sharply criticized the notion of having dual power centres in the state, calling it a "recipe for disaster." Abdullah, who has served as the region's leader for several years, argued that no organization can function effectively when there are multiple decision-making authorities.

“Let me just say this, having two power centres anywhere is a recipe for disaster. No organization works well if there are multiple power centres… there is a reason why our sports team has one captain. You don’t have two captains. Similarly, you don’t have two prime ministers or two power centres in the government of India,” Abdullah said.

His comments were in response to a question regarding the current governance structure in Jammu and Kashmir, especially following the state’s reorganization in 2019, when Jammu and Kashmir was made a Union Territory, separating it from its special status under Article 370.

Abdullah further emphasized the issue of governance, stating that in his two months as Chief Minister, he had not encountered any instance where Jammu and Kashmir had benefited from its Union Territory status. “I have yet to come across a single example where J-K has benefited out of being a Union Territory. Not one. There’s not a single example of governance or development that has come to J-K by virtue of it being a Union Territory,” he added.

The former Jammu and Kashmir CM has been an outspoken critic of the government's decision to revoke the region’s special status, arguing that it has not brought any tangible improvements in terms of infrastructure or administrative efficiency. He believes that the centralized control has only weakened the region’s autonomy and hindered its growth.

Abdullah's remarks come at a time when discussions around the future of Jammu and Kashmir’s governance are intensifying, with some advocating for a return to the statehood model while others support the current Union Territory arrangement. His comments highlight the ongoing debate about the impact of the reorganization on the region’s political and socio-economic fabric.