OPINION: Omar Abdullah: Caught Between Compromise and Criticism in J&K
Peerzada Masarat Shah
Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, is under fire for a perceived misstep that has struck a nerve with the region’s voters. On April 7, 2025, he and his father, Farooq Abdullah, were photographed taking selfies with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju at Srinagar’s Tulip Garden, a moment that clashed with the National Conference’s (NC) protests against Rijiju’s Waqf (Amendment) Bill. The bill, seen as curbing Muslim autonomy, has sparked outrage in J&K’s Muslim-majority population, making Abdullah’s friendly encounter a lightning rod for criticism.
The timing couldn’t be worse. On the same day, NC legislators protested the bill in the J&K Assembly, only to be silenced by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, who blocked debate citing its sub judice status. This, paired with the selfies, has fueled accusations of hypocrisy. Sajad Lone of the J&K People’s Conference slammed Abdullah on X, saying, “The CM of India’s only Muslim-majority province should’ve shunned Rijiju, not posed with him. Shameful.” PDP MLA Waheed Parra echoed this, noting, “J&K’s assembly failed to oppose the Waqf Act—where’s the spine?” The hashtags #OmarSurrender and #WaqfBetrayal are trending, reflecting voter disillusionment.
Adding fuel to the fire, NC’s own Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, MP from Srinagar, revealed on April 14, 2025, that he’s being sidelined by the party for opposing J&K’s 70% reservation policy. “I speak for justice, but the leadership ignores me,” he told reporters, exposing internal rifts. X users rallied behind him, with one posting, “Ruhullah’s stand on reservations shows guts; Omar’s silence shows weakness.”
J&K’s voters—over 9 million, with 70% in the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley—feel betrayed. The Valley, an NC stronghold, expects defiance against New Delhi’s policies, but Abdullah’s diplomacy with Rijiju signals compromise. In Jammu, where the BJP dominates among its 43% Hindu population, the NC struggles to gain traction, leaving Abdullah squeezed. His initiatives, like 200 units of free electricity, haven’t quelled the anger. One X user summed it up: “Free power won’t erase those selfies. Omar’s playing both sides and losing.”
As a Union Territory chief minister, Abdullah’s powers are limited by the Lieutenant Governor and the Centre, but voters see his balancing act as spinelessness. The Waqf protests and Ruhullah’s rebellion highlight a leader losing grip. With the NC’s 42 assembly seats now at risk of voter backlash, Abdullah must act fast to rebuild trust or face a steep political cost.
(The views expressed in the article are exclusively of the author and not that of the Straight Talk Communications.)
The text is in English.
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