Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 20: Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial president of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), has called upon the Centre to fulfill its promise of restoring Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Gupta emphasized that the aspirations of the people must be respected and the Government should act in line with the sentiments prevailing across the region.
In a statement issued here today, the senior NC leader reminded that the resolution to restore Statehood was adopted in the first Cabinet meeting of the Omar Abdullah-led government, reflecting the enduring commitment of JKNC to protect the dignity and rights of the people. He highlighted that even the Lieutenant Governor of J&K has cleared the same resolution passed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s Cabinet urging the Centre to restore the Statehood to the Union Territory.
“The BJP Government’s decision to bifurcate the erstwhile princely State of J&K into two Union Territories was an unprecedented move that disregarded the historical, cultural and political uniqueness of the region,” he stated.
“On August 5, 2019, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured the Parliament that Statehood would be restored to J&K. However, even after more than five years, there has been no concrete step taken in this direction,” he asserted.
Senior NC leader pointed out that since the abrogation of Article 370, two major elections — the Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections — have been conducted in J&K, but the promise of Statehood remains unfulfilled. “It is imperative that the Centre moves beyond assurances and takes concrete steps to restore the Statehood of J&K, as this is not just a political issue but a matter that touches the hearts and emotions of the people,” he added.
Gupta urged the Centre to treat the restoration of Statehood as a priority. “This is an appropriate time to restore Statehood to J&K. It is not just about governance; it is about restoring the pride and dignity of the people who have been consistently demanding their rightful status,” he added.
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