New Delhi: The Modi government is reportedly preparing to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir following the successful recent assembly elections. Ladakh will continue as a Union Territory.
Top Sources indicate that the proposal for this restoration is expected to be introduced during the Winter Session of Parliament, scheduled for the last week of November.
This development comes just days after newly elected Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met with Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which Abdullah requested the restoration of statehood for the region. Following their discussions, both leaders assured the Chief Minister that full statehood would be returned by the end of this year.
However, BJP leader and J&K State President Ravinder Raina recently urged caution regarding the pace of restoring statehood.
In 2019, the Central government, led by Narendra Modi, revoked Articles 370 and 35A, bifurcating Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories: Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. At that time, the government committed to restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir once the situation stabilized. The BJP reaffirmed this commitment during the recent assembly elections.
In the first cabinet meeting of the newly-formed Omar Abdullah government, a proposal to restore statehood was passed and sent to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who approved it and forwarded it to the Ministry of Home Affairs on October 19.
During the recent assembly elections, the BJP also pledged to restore statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. Although Omar Abdullah’s National Conference secured a majority, the Modi government has now agreed to bring a statehood proposal for Jammu and Kashmir in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.(Agencies)
