The word SECULAR was added to the Preamble of the Constitution of India in the year 1976, during the Emergency, imposed by Indira Gandhi.

At that time, in Jammu & Kashmir, there was a government led by Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, and supported by the Congress. The Congress then had 54 out of 75 members in the Legislative Assembly. This constituted an overwhelming majority of more than 2/3rd required for any changes. However, the Congress did not add the word SECULAR to J&K Constitution.

In 1986, the Congress (Rajiv Gandhi) entered into a tie-up with the National Conference (NC) led by Farooq Abduallh. In 1987, the two parties formed a coalition government. This government passed some constitutional amendments but did not add the word SECULAR to the preamble of the J&K Constitution.

In 2002, the Congress joined hands with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. The two parties formed a coalition government and Mufti took oath on November 2, 2002, and ruled up to November 1, 2005. During Mufti’s tenure, the word SECULAR was not added.

On November 2, 2005, Ghulam Nabi Azad of the Congress became the Chief Minister as part of the rotational CM-ship, between PDP and the Congress. He ruled up to July 7, 2008, when he resigned as the PDP had withdrawn support to him after the Amarnath land row.

During the coalition of the PDP-Congress, the word SECULAR was not added to the Preamble of the J&K Constitution. Of course, they passed Constitutional Amendments. One of the amendments they introduced was so blatantly anti-women as they sought to bar women of the state from marrying outsiders and wanted them to forfeit their Permanent Resident Status.

This coalition government also did not add the word SECULAR to the Preamble of J&K Constitution. In fact, during Azad’s CM-ship, a private member moved a bill to do so and it was defeated, collectively by the NC, the PDP and the Congress voting together, saying there was no need to do so!

Finally, a NC-Congress came to power in January 2009 and Omar Abdullah took oath on January 5, 2009. The coalition has carried out constitutional amendments but did not deem it necessary to add the word SECULAR to the Preamble of J&K Constitution.

So,

Three successive generations of ABDULLAHS, namely Sheikh, Farooq and Omar, who have been the CMs, did not add the word SECULAR to J&K Constitution Preamble.

The Congress had a 2/3rd majority in 1976 in J&K Assembly. It did nothing to promote the word SECULAR in Preamble of J&K Constitution. Then, it has been in power several times after that. In the 1987 coalition government, it was a partner.

In the 2002 coalition government with PDP, it was a partner. In 2005, a Congressman became the CM.

In the 2009 coalition government with the NC, the Congress is a partner, for over last five years. Yet, the word SECULAR has not entered the J&K Constitution.

What Indira Ji did was to add SECULAR in the Preamble of Indian Constitution. The Congress had 2/3rd majority in J&K but did nothing. What does that mean? What was considered good and imperative for whole of the India was NOT GOOD for J&K. So it is till date!

It also bears mention that in 1976-77, the J&K Legislative Assembly extended its term, from five years to six years, like other states. Today, it is the only state with a six-year term for the Legislative Assembly! The term of the legislatures was extended by the same Constitutional Amendment (42nd) nationwide through which the word SECULAR was added.

J&K chose to give itself an year extra but not the word SECULAR.

So much for the Congress, the NC and the PDP brand of SECULARISM!