Will Move SC Over J&K Statehood Restoration Delay: Farooq Abdullah
The debate over the restoration of statehood to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been ongoing for quite some time now. The region has been without a state government since the Centre revoked Article 370 in August 2019, which had provided special status to the state. The National Conference (NC) has been demanding the restoration of statehood, and its president, Farooq Abdullah, has now threatened to approach the Supreme Court if there is an inordinate delay in fulfilling this demand.
Abdullah made this statement while speaking to the media after a meeting with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader, Mehbooba Mufti. He expressed frustration over the Centre’s inaction on the issue of statehood, saying that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are waiting for their problems to be resolved, but the restoration of statehood is not happening.
“After the elections, people wanted their issues to be resolved immediately, but statehood (not being restored) is stopping us,” Abdullah said. He added that his party will not hesitate to approach the Supreme Court if the Centre does not take concrete steps to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Centre had announced the delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir in December 2020, which was seen as a step towards restoring statehood. However, the process has been slow, and the people of Jammu and Kashmir are growing impatient.
The NC has been demanding that the Centre restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir as promised in the Delhi Agreement of 1952. The party has also been pushing for the implementation of the recommendations of the Sheikh Abdullah-led State Autonomy Committee of 2000, which had demanded greater autonomy for the state.
Abdullah’s warning to the Centre is significant because the NC has been a major player in Jammu and Kashmir’s politics for decades. The party has a strong following in the Valley, and its leaders have been vocal in their criticism of the Centre’s policies in the region.
The NC’s decision to approach the Supreme Court over the issue of statehood restoration is also significant because it highlights the growing frustration among the people of Jammu and Kashmir over the lack of progress on this issue. The region has been facing a severe political crisis since the Centre revoked Article 370, and the people are looking for a resolution to their problems.
The Centre, on the other hand, has been maintaining that the restoration of statehood is a complex issue that requires careful consideration. The Centre has also been arguing that the delimitation exercise is necessary to ensure that the electoral process in Jammu and Kashmir is fair and transparent.
However, the people of Jammu and Kashmir are not convinced by the Centre’s arguments. They see the delay in restoring statehood as a deliberate attempt to undermine their rights and dignity. The NC’s decision to approach the Supreme Court is a reflection of this growing frustration, and it is likely to put pressure on the Centre to take concrete steps to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
In conclusion, Farooq Abdullah’s warning to the Centre over the delay in restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is a significant development in the ongoing political crisis in the region. The NC’s decision to approach the Supreme Court over this issue is a reflection of the growing frustration among the people of Jammu and Kashmir over the lack of progress on this issue. It is now up to the Centre to take concrete steps to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and address the concerns of the people.
