Omar Summons Nc Mlas Amid Dissent Rumours

Amid mounting political pressure, chief minister Omar Abdullah has called a mandatory meeting of all 42 party legislators and five supporting independent lawmakers in Srinagar on Wednesday to discuss key governance issues.This marks the first extraordinary mee... Amid mounting political pressure, chief minister Omar Abdullah has called a mandatory meeting of all 42 party legislators and five supporting independent lawmakers in Srinagar on Wednesday to discuss key governance issues.This marks the first extraordinary meeting between the CM and his legislators in the 21 months since the government was formed in October 2024.The opposition claims the meeting is a damage-control exercise to contain internal rebellion fuelled by delays in a much-hyped cabinet expansion. Leader of the opposition Sunil Sharma said, “Many NC legislators are unhappy with their own government, and time is running out for this government.” Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders made similar allegations, suggesting that ruling party members “are afraid of the induction of new ministers into the cabinet.”Even within the NC, senior MP Aga Ruhullah voiced dissent, publicly urging the leadership to listen to its own representatives: “They should seek feedback from them on whether the government has been able to fulfil its main promises, on which the people gave them votes.”While the CM’s adviser, Nasir Aslam Wani, termed it a “routine meeting to discuss governance issues,” Omar Abdullah took to X to mock the opposition’s claims: “I love how the people who know the least about the meeting I’ve called with my MLAs are talking the most. Remember one thing: Those who know don’t speak, and those who speak sit in the opposition.”Meanwhile, the Congress continues to maintain its distance. At a recent party meeting in Dharamshala attended by leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, Jammu and Kashmir Congress leaders openly criticised the NC government and said the party “shouldn’t give free hand to the ruling party and raise their voice on important public issues.”It remains unclear whether the six Congress legislators have been called for or will be attending Wednesday’s meeting.Ladakh deal sparks unity callFollowing the recent successful talks regarding administrative demands in neighbouring Ladakh, the ruling NC is leveraging the momentum to renew its push for statehood in Jammu and Kashmir. There is growing internal consensus in the NC that the party must build a united front by taking all political parties and stakeholders on board.While BJP leaders countered that statehood will be restored at an “appropriate time” and warned the NC not to try to “put pressure on the Centre, an NC chief spokesman and legislator said: “Jammu and Kashmir National Conference has consistently maintained that the restoration of full statehood to J&K is not a favour, but a democratic and constitutional right of its people. We will continue to pursue this demand with sincerity and resolve at every appropriate forum and with all stakeholders, including the Centre.”The spokesman added that they sincerely hope assurances given by the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister, and the home minister “are honoured without