Home Minister reiterates statehood restoration promise

New Delhi, Dec 14: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Saturday reiterated his promise of statehood restoration to Jammu and Kashmir and said that the appropriate decisions would be taken at the right time.

Speaking at the Agenda Aaj Tak programme in New Delhi, he reiterated that J&K’s return to full statehood would be decided “at the appropriate time.”

Addressing concerns during the ‘Shah Hai To Sambhav Hai’ session, the Home Minister said, “We have already made our stand clear in Parliament. The timeframe was shared there, and we said appropriate decisions would be taken when the time comes. It would not be appropriate for me to provide additional details now, especially when Parliament is in session.”

Shah underscored the government’s commitment to improving governance in the region, saying, “We fulfilled our promise by holding elections and enabling a popular government to take charge in J&K. The removal of President’s rule itself signifies the progress made in the region.”

He said that the situation in J&K had significantly improved under the present dispensation.

Highlighting the developments in the region, the Home Minister said, “Over two crore tourists have visited Jammu and Kashmir, cinema halls have reopened after three decades, and the Tazia procession was conducted for the first time in 33 years. These are significant milestones that reflect the improved situation in the region.”

He said: “The amount of investment that Jammu and Kashmir received in the last 75 years has been matched in just five years. Lok Sabha elections, Panchayat elections, and other democratic exercises have been conducted without violence. Not a single bullet was fired, and there was no need for re-elections anywhere. This itself is the strongest evidence of normalcy and peace in Jammu and Kashmir.”

On the question of terrorism, Shah emphasised the strides taken to curb violence and promote stability in J&K.

“The restoration of peace and law and order is visible in every sphere. Investment inflows, the revival of cultural events like the Tazia procession, and the safe conduct of elections are testaments to this progress. We remain committed to uprooting terrorism and ensuring long-term stability in the region,” he said.

While maintaining that the central government’s approach to Jammu and Kashmir is guided by pragmatism and timing, Shah reassured that every promise made regarding the region would be honoured at the appropriate time.