At the inauguration of major development projects in Jammu and Kashmir, including the world’s highest Chenab railway bridge and the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express—former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah addressed the sensitive issue of the region’s statehood in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Standing alongside the Prime Minister, Abdullah reflected on his long involvement with J&K’s railway projects and highlighted the political changes following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. This move led to the bifurcation of the state and its reclassification as a union territory. With a mix of humor and gravity, he remarked, “While the then MoS Railways, Manoj Sinha, was promoted to J&K LG, I was demoted from Chief Minister of a state to Chief Minister of a UT. But things will return to normal soon, and J&K will regain its statehood under PM Narendra Modi.”
His comments emphasized the ongoing demand by political leaders and citizens alike for the restoration of full statehood—a commitment repeatedly made by the central government but yet to be realized.
The event also marked the official inauguration of the Chenab Bridge by PM Modi, a stunning engineering marvel and the world’s highest railway bridge, now connecting Kashmir to the rest of India by rail. This visit was PM Modi’s first to the region after Operation Sindoor, a recent cross-border military response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
During the visit, PM Modi engaged with engineers, workers, and officials at the bridge site, praising their dedication in completing a project that symbolizes both infrastructural advancement and the spirit of national integration for Jammu and Kashmir.