NEW DELHI, MARCH 14 ; A delegation of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) MPs met President Droupadi Murmu on Friday, pressing for the immediate restoration of full statehood to the Union Territory and flagging concerns over potential delays in the legislative process required for its reinstatement.
The Rajya Sabha members — Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, and Shammi Oberoi — submitted a memorandum at Rashtrapati Bhavan, reminding the government of its commitment made on the floor of Parliament to restore J&K’s statehood at the earliest.
Citing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the BJP in J&K, the delegation argued that any further delay would amount to going back on a “solemn assurance.” The MPs stressed that the restoration cannot be made conditional or subject to open-ended timelines.
While the government has maintained that statehood will be restored “at an appropriate time,” the MPs urged the President to initiate the constitutional process, which requires a statutory resolution under Article 3 of the Constitution. They underscored that the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which bifurcated the erstwhile state into two Union Territories, itself provides for the restoration of statehood.
The delegation also raised concerns over protecting the region’s land and job rights. They sought constitutional safeguards for the domicile community, fearing that any dilution could alter the demographic character of the UT.
The MPs further demanded that major hydroelectric power projects, currently operated by the NHPC, be transferred back to J&K. “The UT should have the first right over its own resources,” the memorandum stated, linking resource control to fiscal autonomy.
In a memorandum that also touched upon the economic distress in the region, the leaders called for a special employment package to tackle rising joblessness among the youth. They also flagged the ecological crisis posed by the rapid melting of the Kolahoi Glacier, urging scientific intervention to protect the region’s water security. (Via National Conference)
