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Abdullah expressed hope that the Centre will accord statehood to J&K soon
Omar Abdullah
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reiterated his demand for statehood to J&K on Friday while speaking at an event in Katra, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present.
Abdullah expressed hope that the Centre will soon accord statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, which was bifurcated into two union territories in 2019.
“Call it fate or destiny, but whenever there have been programs related to the railways, I’ve been fortunate enough to be associated with the Prime Minister in all railway projects in J&K. First, when Anantnag Railway Station was inaugurated. Second, when the Banihal Railway Tunnel was inaugurated… The same four people were present here in 2014 when the Katra Railway Station was inaugurated… While the then MoS Railways, Manoj Sinha, got promoted to the post of J&K LG, I got demoted from CM of a state to CM of a UT. But things will get back to normal before we know it, and J&K will be given the status of a state by PM Narendra Modi,” he said.
#WATCH | Katra, J&K | CM Omar Abdullah says, “… I have been fortunate to be associated with the Prime Minister in all railway projects in J&K. First, when Anantnag Railway Station was inaugurated. Second, when the Banihal Railway Tunnel was inaugurated… The same four people… pic.twitter.com/35WzxGSSMT— ANI (@ANI) June 6, 2025
Abdullah said PM Modi connected the Valley with the rest of India, a project even the Britishers couldn’t do it. He credited the former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for Chenab Bridge.
“Many people dreamt of this train service… What the British could not do, you got it completed, and Kashmir Valley has now been connected with the rest of the country. On this occasion, it would be a mistake if I did not mention and thank former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee… I studied in 8th when the foundation for this project was laid. Now I am 55, and it has finally been inaugurated. This could happen only when Atal Bihari Vajpayee gave it the status of ‘project of national importance’ and increased its budget. It will greatly benefit the people of J&K in every way,” the CM said.
PM Modi inaugurated the world’s highest railway bridge– Chenab Bridge– and flagged off the maiden Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express, the first train connecting the valley with the rest of India. He also interacted with passengers, and crew of the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat train before flagging off at Katra railway station.
Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19
Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19
- Location :
Katra, India, India
- First Published:
