The ruling Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Tuesday said the “appropriate time” for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir had arrived, asserting that people were “tired” of hearing repeated assurances on the issue.
Political parties across Jammu and Kashmir have been demanding restoration of statehood since the erstwhile state was bifurcated into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have repeatedly stated in Parliament that statehood would be restored, no formal decision has yet been announced.
The Centre has consistently maintained that restoration of statehood would take place at an “appropriate time”.
Talking to reporters in Srinagar, National Conference chief spokesperson and MLA Tanvir Sadiq said the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the Supreme Court had indicated that the process in Jammu and Kashmir would unfold in phases.
“After delimitation and elections, the restoration of statehood was promised. Delimitation has taken place, elections have been held and an elected government is in place. We were told that statehood would be restored at an appropriate time,” Sadiq said.
He asserted that the appropriate time had already arrived. “It has been nearly one and a half years since the elections. People from every region participated enthusiastically in the democratic process. If this is still not considered the appropriate time, then when will that time come?” he asked.
Sadiq also questioned whether the delay was linked to the political leadership in Jammu and Kashmir. “Is the appropriate time only when the BJP forms the government in Jammu and Kashmir? Or is there a delay because the government here is led by the National Conference?” he said.
He said the Centre should honour the commitment made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and restore statehood without further delay.
“The mandate given by the people must be respected and the promise of statehood restoration should now be fulfilled. People are tired of repeatedly hearing about the ‘appropriate time’,” he added.
