Asif Malik
Srinagar, Oct 11 : Union Minister of State Ramdas Bandu Athawale on Sunday said Jammu and Kashmir could get its statehood back soon, but added that the final call on the timing would be taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Citing the Centre’s earlier assurance in Parliament, Athawale as per news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) said the government had committed to restoring statehood at an appropriate time. He, however, refused to commit to a timeline, saying he was not in a position to announce a date.
On the continuing protests over deletions from electoral rolls, the minister said those whose names had been removed by mistake could apply for restoration. Acknowledging the democratic right to protest, he said repeated agitations on the same issue were not appropriate.
Defending the police action against demonstrators, Athawale alleged that protesters tried to break barricades and pelted stones at personnel, prompting a lathi-charge. He said protests should be centred on genuine public demands and urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to frame schemes addressing the region’s needs.
Athawale said he had sought time from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to discuss issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir, and that he planned to meet Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to convey the region’s requirements to the authorities concerned.
Reiterating that the Centre was willing to address J&K’s needs, he expressed hope that statehood would be restored in the near future. (KNS)
