Srinagar, 15 February 2025—Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have already conveyed that Jammu and Kashmir's statehood will be restored in due course. However, he did not specify a timeline.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Rijiju, who handles parliamentary and minority affairs, said, “The Prime Minister and the Home Minister have made it clear that statehood will be restored in due course, with powers and functions clearly demarcated.”
When asked about a timeframe or the division of powers between the lieutenant governor and an elected chief minister, the Arunachal West MP said he would not comment on political or governance matters as his visit was focused on the Union Budget.
“Jammu and Kashmir remains a Union Territory for now. The lieutenant governor is the administrative head, and we have an elected government that has been functioning successfully,” he said.
Addressing concerns over a reduction in budgetary allocations for J&K in the 2025-26 fiscal, Rijiju stated that funding was based on the region’s spending capacity.
“The finance minister has already mentioned that allocations are as per spending capacity, and additional funds will be provided if needed. This does not include centrally-sponsored schemes. There is no shortage of resources,” he said.