National Conference Rejects Separate Jammu Statehood, Pushes for Ladakh’s Reunification with J&K
By: Javid Amin | 06 January 2026
The political debate over the future of Jammu & Kashmir has intensified, with the National Conference (NC) firmly rejecting any proposal to grant separate statehood to Jammu, while renewing its demand for the reunification of Ladakh with J&K.
Senior NC leaders, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Minister Javed Rana, have warned that further territorial division would destabilise the region, deepen political fault lines, and undermine unity in a sensitive border state.
Omar Abdullah: “BJP Wants to Dismantle J&K”
Reacting sharply to BJP leaders advocating separate statehood for Jammu, Omar Abdullah accused the party of pursuing a divisive agenda.
He argued that:
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The BJP has already “ruined Ladakh” by carving it out as a Union Territory in 2019.
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Proposals for Jammu’s separate statehood amount to an attempt to “dismantle and destroy Jammu & Kashmir”.
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Fragmentation weakens democratic representation and regional cohesion.
According to Omar Abdullah, the repeated redrawing of J&K’s political map has created administrative uncertainty and public alienation, rather than stability.
NC’s Core Demand: Reunify Ladakh with J&K
NC Minister Javed Rana went a step further, asserting that the separation of Ladakh is politically motivated and unsustainable.
NC’s Argument
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Ladakh’s Union Territory status has failed to deliver meaningful political empowerment.
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Reunification would restore political balance and administrative coherence.
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Continued division risks turning governance into a centre-driven model with limited local voice.
Rana maintained that the Centre would eventually be forced to reconsider Ladakh’s status due to growing dissatisfaction on the ground.
BJP’s Jammu Statehood Proposal Sparks Row
The controversy was triggered after former BJP minister Sham Lal Sharma suggested that Jammu should be granted separate statehood, claiming it reflects long-standing regional aspirations.
The proposal immediately drew backlash from the NC, which labelled it:
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Dangerous
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Anti-people
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Communally and regionally divisive
NC leaders argue that there is no strong mass movement demanding Jammu’s separate statehood and that the issue is being politically amplified.
Why This Debate Matters Now
High Political Stakes
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The statehood question remains unresolved for J&K as a whole.
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Any talk of further division sharpens regional and communal anxieties.
Security Dimension
NC leaders warn that fragmenting a border-sensitive region like J&K could:
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Complicate security coordination
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Fuel political instability
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Weaken social cohesion
Governance Narrative
The NC accuses the BJP of using territorial restructuring to divert attention from governance challenges such as unemployment, inflation, and development delays.
Public Sentiment: No Clear Consensus
Public reaction across Jammu & Kashmir remains mixed:
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Some voices in Jammu have historically raised concerns of neglect.
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However, there is no widespread or unified demand for separate statehood.
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In Ladakh, civil society groups have increasingly questioned the UT model, demanding greater safeguards and political representation.
What Lies Ahead
The debate over Jammu’s statehood and Ladakh’s future is likely to become a major political flashpoint in 2026, especially as discussions around:
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Restoration of J&K’s statehood
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Democratic rights
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Centre–UT relations
gain momentum.
For the NC, the message is clear: unity over fragmentation.
For the BJP, the challenge will be defending its restructuring narrative amid growing scrutiny.
Bottom Line
As Jammu & Kashmir navigates its uncertain political future, the clash between reunification and further division has re-emerged as a defining fault line. With NC positioning itself as the defender of J&K’s unity and the BJP pushing alternative regional models, the coming months could decisively shape the region’s political discourse.
