Don’t trust verbal promises of Centre: Omar Abdullah tells Ladakh leaders
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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. | Photo Credit: PTI
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday (September 16, 2026) advised Ladakh leaders “not to trust verbal promises of the Centre.”
“I can advise them (Ladakh leaders) as a friend and elder brother: Do not trust the verbal promises of the Centre. We have suffered it on the demand of Statehood. We were promised Statehood immediately after the assembly elections. Around two years have already passed,” Mr. Abdullah said.
The J&K Chief Minister made a hand-folded appeal to agitating Ladakh leaders “to seek a signed and a written affidavit” from the Centre. “Till Ladakh does not have anything in writing, they will not achieve anything,” Mr. Abdullah said.
His statement came following the September 9 talks between Ladakh representatives, including members of socio-religious organisations of Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), and the Centre.
In spite of the Centre terming the talks “successful”, both the LAB and KDA are sceptical and have decided to step up protests on the first anniversary of the death of four civilians on September 24 last year. The LAB and KDA leaders are demanding a draft paper on the promises made by the Centre to grant special status under special provisions under Article 371.
LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook and KDA co-chairman Asgar Ali Karbalai on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) hinted at holding “peaceful” protests ahead of the first anniversary of the September 24 violence, which left four dead and around 90 injured last year.
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