Srinagar, Aug. 6: The Congress on Wednesday demanded the immediate and unconditional restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that the Centre has failed to fulfil repeated assurances despite the completion of the delimitation exercise and the conduct of Assembly elections.
AICC general secretary in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, and Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain said the people of the Union Territory have been waiting for the restoration of statehood for seven years since the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state.
“Seven years after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state, the people of Jammu and Kashmir are still waiting for the restoration of full statehood,” Hussain said.
He alleged that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had repeatedly assured that statehood would be restored, but those commitments remained unfulfilled.
Arguing that the conditions cited by the Centre had already been met, Hussain said there was no justification for continuing with an arrangement in which the Lieutenant Governor exercised overriding authority over matters that should be under the control of an elected government.
He further alleged that the existing governance framework was inconsistent with the federal principles enshrined in the Constitution and deprived the people of Jammu and Kashmir of the democratic self-governance enjoyed by other states.
The Congress demanded the immediate and unconditional restoration of full statehood, full constitutional authority for the democratically elected government, and adherence to constitutional provisions, democratic institutions and federal principles.
Urging the Union government to act without further delay, Hussain said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had waited long enough and deserved the restoration of full statehood in keeping with the Centre’s repeated commitments.
