Srinagar, Nov 25 - As the Winter Session of Parliament commences, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra on Monday urged the BJP-led central government to fulfill its promise of restoring statehood and constitutional guarantees to Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters at the party headquarters in Srinagar, Karra said that this demand was not a protest but a principled stance based on the commitments made by the BJP government in 2019.
"Before, during, and after the elections, we strongly demanded that our rights and guarantees, which were taken away in 2019, must be restored. Statehood and constitutional guarantees were promised to us, but those promises have only become empty words," Karra remarked.
He stressed the urgency of restoring Jammu and Kashmir's statehood, reiterating that the Government of India had made repeated assurances, but those promises had yet to materialize.
Karra reminded the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment made during his visit to Srinagar on September 19, when he assured that statehood would be restored "as soon as possible."
"The delay in restoring statehood is an affront to the emotions, aspirations, and democratic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," Karra said. "This voice from Srinagar is being ignored by those who choose to turn a blind eye."
Karra also referred to the Supreme Court's directives, stressing the importance of conducting elections in the region and fulfilling the promise of restoring statehood. "If you cannot uphold your promises as a moral responsibility, then at least respect the directions of the Supreme Court," he said.
When asked about recent remarks by National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, Karra said that the Congress was focused on the agenda of the day. "I would not like to comment on anything other than today’s significance," he added.
—(KNO)