Demotion of J&K to UT level unacceptable, GoI should restore full statehood: Karan Singh

Srinagar, Jan 04: Former Sadr-e-Riyasat and veteran Congress leader Karan Singh on Saturday demanded restoration of full Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir saying that the demotion J&K to a UT was totally unacceptable.

In an interview with PTI, Karan Singh said the J&K was demoted to UT despite Government of India claiming J&K as Crown of India.

"Not to talk of Crown, the J&K has fallen below even Himachal and Haryana. So that is something which has to be remedied," he said.

He expressed hope that Government of India (GoI) will restore full statehood as soon as possible.

"I want full statehood to be restored. No ifs and buts. Proper statehood. If you (GoI) say you are going to integrate it, it must be like Odisha or like Assam or like any other state then," Karan Singh said.

He said that politically the whole game has changed in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of 370.

"Before abrogation of Article 370, the main question was how much autonomy the state should get. That was the struggle. The state was asking for more autonomy, the centre wanted to give less. But with abrogation of Article 370, the whole thing has now changed. No question of autonomy arises now," he said.

He said that along with statehood the domiciliary laws should be like they have in Himachal. "Everybody cannot buy land in Himachal. So these are domiciliary laws under sections 271, 272," he said.

Referring to the recent Assembly elections held in J&K, Karan Singh said the election held after 10 years was very interesting throwing up a clear mandate.

"All 29 Hindu seats went to the BJP and the vast majority of the Muslim seats went to the National Conference," he said.