Sajad Lone Criticizes Omar Abdullah’s Resignation Statement, Questions NC’s Credibility on Statehood Demand
By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 25 June 2025
The debate over Jammu & Kashmir’s full statehood took another dramatic turn as People’s Conference (PC) chief Sajad Lone lashed out at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for what he termed as “theatrical tantrums” following Abdullah’s statement offering to resign if it would help restore statehood.
Lone Dismisses Omar’s Resignation Offer as Political Drama
Omar Abdullah’s emotional offer—to step aside if a BJP-led government would facilitate the return of statehood—was met with swift backlash from the PC chief. Sajad Lone derided the gesture, questioning the authenticity of Omar’s intent.
“You really mean business? Resign. We all will resign. And sit on protest at Jantar Mantar,” Lone stated bluntly, calling on Omar to back his words with tangible action.
“Power at Any Cost” — Sajad Lone Accuses NC of Double Standards
Lone didn’t stop at just critiquing Omar’s statement. He went further, accusing the National Conference of lacking moral clarity and historical courage. “They never resigned when autonomy was rejected in Parliament. They didn’t resign when Article 370 was abrogated. But now they want applause for a conditional resignation?” Lone remarked.
He accused the NC of adhering to the principle of “power at any cost,” implying that their commitment to statehood has more to do with political optics than genuine advocacy. “You don’t get to rewrite history to play hero now,” he said.
Where Is the Assembly Resolution on Statehood?
In a pointed challenge to the National Conference, Lone asked why the J&K Assembly had not yet passed a formal resolution demanding full statehood. “That’s the first step—formalize the demand through a democratic channel,” he said.
Lone added that without such a resolution, any public statements are hollow gestures meant to mislead the people. “Words are cheap. Resolutions carry weight. If the NC is serious, let them prove it in the Assembly,” he urged.
Rift Among Regional Parties Widens
The clash between Lone and Abdullah is not just a war of words; it reveals a deeper ideological and strategic split among J&K’s regional players. While all major parties ostensibly support the restoration of full statehood, their approaches and rhetoric suggest otherwise.
The People’s Conference has increasingly positioned itself as a no-nonsense alternative to the traditional political elite, accusing legacy parties like NC and PDP of opportunism. “We won’t let them play saviors now when they were silent during the darkest days,” Lone stated.
Political Pressure Mounts on NC to Act
With Lone’s direct challenge, political pressure is now mounting on the NC to translate its rhetoric into legislative or symbolic action. Civil society voices and opposition leaders are also echoing similar sentiments: if Omar Abdullah is serious about sacrificing political power for statehood, he must lead from the front with a bold gesture.
Strategic Implications for 2025 Politics
This confrontation also sets the stage for the larger political battles of 2025. As the Union government continues to delay a clear timeline for restoring full statehood to Jammu & Kashmir, internal political rivalries may end up shaping the region’s future more than central directives.
In that context, Sajad Lone’s challenge isn’t just directed at Omar Abdullah—it’s a call to all regional players to unify their strategies and commit to action, not slogans.
Bottom-Line: Will Political Will Translate to Political Action?
The next few weeks could determine whether Omar Abdullah will respond to Sajad Lone’s dare, and whether the NC will finally push a formal resolution in the Assembly demanding statehood. Until then, the people of J&K continue to watch closely, hoping that their leaders will put public interest above party calculations.
As one civil society activist put it: “The people don’t want more speeches. They want their state back—and the leaders to stop bickering and start acting.”
