Six Years After Article 370 Abrogation: Omar Predicts Calm, Mehbooba Fears Further Disempowerment

On the eve of the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special constitutional status, political leaders in the Union Territory expressed sharply contrasting expectations.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah downplayed the speculation surrounding possible developments on the anniversary. “Let me stick my neck out and say nothing will happen tomorrow — fortunately nothing bad, unfortunately nothing positive either,” he posted on social media, expressing hope that the Monsoon Session of Parliament might bring something beneficial for the region. Emphasizing that his prediction was purely a “gut feeling”, he added that he had not been in touch with officials in Delhi.
In contrast, former CM and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti voiced deep concerns. She warned that the region could be heading toward another round of disempowerment. “Something worse may be in the offing to dismember us further,” she said, referring to the 2019 move that bifurcated the state and stripped it of autonomy. Mehbooba accused the government of targeting Muslims, especially Kashmiris, through such decisions.
Speculation had intensified due to a series of high-level meetings in Delhi, as well as the suspension of the annual Amarnath Yatra, officially attributed to urgent maintenance work caused by heavy rains. Political observers remain watchful of further developments in the days ahead, especially with the ongoing Monsoon Session and the upcoming Vice-Presidential nomination process.