Omar Abdullah: PoK residents would seek J&K merger if Article 370 were intact

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah made remarks reflecting on the region's political history, including the 1947 tribal invasion, while paying tribute to his grandfather Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. He argued that the revocation of Article 370 had altered the region's standing, suggesting that people in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir might otherwise have sought to reunite with J&K. Abdullah stressed the importance of strengthening federalism and democracy in India. He also called for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's full statehood, which was downgraded to a Union Territory in 2019. Additionally, he raised concerns about the current national examination frameworks in the country.