Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah said Wednesday that violence and civilian deaths continue to haunt the region despite repeated government assurances that the 2019 constitutional changes would usher in lasting peace, according to GK Kashmir News.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah said residents were told the cycle of bloodshed would end, yet the ground reality remains grim. “If it’s not exploding in Delhi, it’s exploding here. Innocent people are losing their lives,” he said, noting that Kashmir has endured more than three decades of unrest. “We were told that after 2019 this whole thing would stop, but it didn’t happen.”
He argued that accountability now lies squarely with those responsible for security operations. “Why this is still happening, you should ask those responsible for our security. We don’t have that responsibility,” Abdullah said.
The former chief minister has been visiting families affected by the recent Nowgam blast, which killed and injured several civilians. “Yesterday I went to five places, and today I am going to two more,” he said. “Ultimately, we want this situation to stop at some point. Jammu and Kashmir has seen enough bloodshed over the last 30–35 years.”
Abdullah also commented on economic development efforts under Mission Yuva, an initiative aimed at fostering youth entrepreneurship. He said roughly 30,000 Detailed Project Reports have been approved and banks have sanctioned about 9,000, with nearly ₹400 crore disbursed in the past five months.
While calling the overall experience encouraging, he acknowledged a significant gap between project approvals and bank sanctions. “The approval rate is high, but sanctions are lower. We will work to correct this gap,” he said, adding that the administration will continue reviewing progress and addressing shortcomings to ensure young entrepreneurs receive real support.
