Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi have jointly written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling for immediate legislation to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The leaders urged the government to bring the bill in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, highlighting the constitutional and democratic aspirations of the people in the region.
Since the 2019 reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir—which resulted in its bifurcation and downgrade to a Union Territory—the Congress has consistently advocated for the restoration of its former status.
“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,” the letter reads.
An Unprecedented Move
The Congress leaders highlighted the unprecedented nature of the decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
“This is the first time in independent India that a full-fledged state has been downgraded to a Union Territory,” they noted, contrasting it with earlier examples where union territories were elevated to statehood.
Rahul Gandhi and Kharge also reminded the Prime Minister of his public commitments to restoring statehood.
Referring to PM Modi’s statements from both an interview in Bhubaneswar and a rally in Srinagar, they quoted him saying, “The restoration of statehood is a solemn promise we have made and we stand by it.”
The letter further highlighted that the Centre assured the Supreme Court during the Article 370 hearings it would restore statehood ‘at the earliest and as soon as possible’.
Alongside their demand for Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress has also pushed for the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
They argued that this move would protect the cultural and land rights of Ladakh’s residents and respond to their political and developmental concerns.
The renewed demand comes amidst internal unrest within the Congress’s Jammu and Kashmir unit, with several senior leaders reportedly seeking the removal of state unit chief Tariq Hameed Karra.
The party also faces strained ties with the National Conference, despite their alliance within the INDIA bloc.
The Congress has framed its demands as essential to upholding democratic values and regional rights.
With the Monsoon Session approaching, all eyes will be on the Centre’s response to this growing political pressure.
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