Farooq Abdullah warns Jammu and Kashmir government is walking on razor's edge

Why the government is 'walking on a razor's edge'

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has warned that the newly formed Jammu and Kashmir administration is operating under severe financial and political constraints, describing its current position as "walking on a razor's edge".

Speaking at the fifth 'Halla Bolle' conclave in Srinagar, the three-time chief minister defended his party's government against public demands for immediate results, urging people to recognise the difficult economic reality inherited by the state.

"The government is doing its work to the extent it can," Abdullah said. "But if you demand that we fetch the moon and stars, that is not possible." He added that ministers are actively travelling to reach citizens despite a cash-strapped treasury that has faced significant setbacks over the past year.

Criticism of the reservation hike

The warning comes amid growing political debate over regional policies. Abdullah criticised the recent hike in the Jammu and Kashmir reservation policy, calling it an "injustice" that the current administration must address. However, he cautioned that any corrective measures must be managed carefully given the administration's limited resources.

The erosion of Article 370

Abdullah linked the state's current administrative struggles directly to the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status. He argued that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had long targeted the region's autonomy because of its Muslim-majority demographic.

However, the veteran leader laid much of the blame on local politicians, accusing them of collaborating with New Delhi over several decades to weaken regional self-rule in exchange for personal power. Without explicitly naming the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abdullah targeted their decision to form a coalition government with the BJP following the 2014 elections, suggesting this alliance paved the way for the eventual loss of special status.

"I do not consider Delhi as the sole culprit; I consider our own people responsible," he said, accusing local figures of trading their self-respect for official perks and positions.

Accession and the United Nations

Reflecting on the historical relationship between Jammu and Kashmir and the Indian union, Abdullah described the accession as historically "temporary". He noted that the association was originally meant to be finalised through a United Nations-supervised referendum.

According to Abdullah, this vote never took place because both India and Pakistan repeatedly rejected proposed UN observers, leading to an ongoing deadlock. He argued that once New Delhi declared a referendum would not happen, Article 370 should have been made permanent to protect the region from the steady extension of central laws.

Abdullah also called on the local population to foster self-reliance, pointing out a collective failure to perform basic tasks without relying on external workers. "Today, even when it is time to harvest paddy, we look for Bihari labourers," he said, urging the public to build independent economic strength.