Congress bats for J&K’s statehood restoration

Ahead of the upcoming Monsoon session of the Parliament, the Congress on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to bring in a legislation in the coming session to grant full statehood to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

J&K’s special status was scrapped on August 5, 2019, while the erstwhile state was also subsequently bifurcated and downgraded into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.

In a letter written to the Prime Minister, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition(LOP) Rahul Gandhi said, “…we urge upon the Government to bring forward a legislation in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament to grant full statehood to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Additionally, we request that the Government bring forward legislation to include the Union Territory of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution."

Both the leaders in their address to the PM said, “Hon’ble Prime Minister, For the past five years, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have consistently called for the restoration of full statehood. This demand is both legitimate and firmly grounded in their constitutional and democratic rights. It is important to recognise that while there have been instances of Union Territories being granted statehood in the past, the case of Jammu and Kashmir is without precedent in independent India."

They have also stated, “This is the first time a full-fledged state has been downgraded to a Union Territory following its bifurcation."

Your goodself has, on multiple occasions, personally reiterated the government’s commitment to restoring statehood. In your interview in Bhubaneswar on 19 May 2024, you stated: ‘The restoration of statehood is a solemn promise we have made and we stand by it," they said in the letter.

They have also referred to the PM’s rally in Srinagar on 19 September 2024 stating, “you reaffirmed: ‘We have said in Parliament that we will restore the region’s statehood.’ Furthermore, the Union Government has made similar assurances before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the In Re: Article 370 matter, submitting that statehood would be restored ‘at the earliest and as soon as possible.’

Besides, the two leaders alao demanded sixth schedule for Ladakh UT.

“Additionally, we request that the Government bring forward legislation to include the Union Territory of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution. This would be a significant step towards addressing the cultural, developmental, and political aspirations of the people of Ladakh, while safeguarding their rights, land, and identity."

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