Fulfilling the promise

It is almost a month now since Omar Abdullah took oath as Chief Minister of the Union Territory of J&K. In the first cabinet meeting headed by Chief Minister a resolution was passed urging the Union Government to restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. The Cabinet authorised the Chief Minister to take up the matter with the Prime Minister and Government of India for restoration of statehood. This was followed by a series of meetings between PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Ami Shah on one hand and CM Omar Abdullah on the other. He also met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkiri. Only a few days back Omar Abdullah had a meeting with President of India Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Modi and Amit Shah’s assurance

Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on several occasions have promised to restore J&K’s statehood. As a resident of Jammu & Kashmir I am unable to understand that when both these leaders had promised to restore statehood, what was the need to issue an order in July this year by MHA that reconfigured the distribution of power between LG’s office and the CM’s office? On this year’s International Yoga Day (June 21^st 2024 ) PM Modi personally arrived in Srinagar to attend a Yoga programme. This was seen as a youth outreach programme. At Srinagar’s Sher e Kashmir International Convention Complex - SKICC PM Modi said:

“Preparations have started for the assembly election. That time is not far when you can choose the government with your vote”. His next comment brought a loud round of applause and cheers from the audience when he said “That day is not far away either when Jammu and Kashmir can decide its own future as a state”. 

On September 19^th Prime Minister Modi again promised to restore J&K’s statehood without specifying the time limit. While addressing a BJP’s election rally in Srinagar Modi said:

“We had promised in the parliament that Jammu and Kashmir will again be a state and only the BJP will fulfill this commitment,”

In his election rally speech on September 7^th 2024 the Union Home Minister Amit Shah while addressing a gathering in Jammu assured that J&K’s statehood would be restored. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah soon after winning the elections said that he expects Prime Minister Narendra Modi to do the “honourable thing” by restoring the promised statehood to the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He also said that the first business of the NC-Congress coalition Govt should be to pass a resolution in the cabinet seeking restoration of statehood.

Time to fulfil the promise

On one hand PM Modi gives people of J&K assurance that the day is not far when J&K will be a state again but even after 5 years of Article 370 abrogation J&K continues to be a Union Territory? It was expected that Prime Minister Modi would make a special address after the peaceful conclusion of phase 3 of J&K elections on October 1^st 2024 & would make an announcement about statehood restoration. But that didn’t happen even as the deadline to hold elections by September end was given by the Supreme Court of India. Like a true leader and not caring for the mandate for his party (BJP) in J&K he should have made an announcement for statehood restoration even before the election results were out. The election is over. The Government elected by people has taken oath and resolution for restoration of statehood has been passed in the cabinet meeting. In fact J&K legislative assembly also passed a resolution on restoration of J&K’s special status. A separate debate has taken place around that issue, but leaving that aside, what is the reason for not restoring our statehood at least? The people have given a clear mandate to the National Conference and the the Govt of India headed by Prime Minister Modi seems to be silent about out statehood ?

Conclusion

On October 17^th the Supreme Court (SC) agreed to consider hearing the application seeking direction for restoration of J&K’s statehood within two months.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jammu-and-kashmir-restoration-of-statehood-sc-hearing-plea-9624750/

The petition moved by rights activist and political science teacher Zahoor Ahmad Bhat urged upon the apex court to get J&K’s statehood restored. In past also Zahoor had moved to SC and he was suspended by the JK Govt for his activism but was reinstated on the orders of Apex Court. It is ironic that the Supreme Court had to intervene to conduct elections in J&K and now again we have to wait for a judgement to come that will enable us to get statehood. Why cannot the Govt of India take this decision on its own and respect the mandate of the people of Jammu & Kashmir ?

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat is an Acumen Fellow. He is Founder / Chairman Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement