Hopeful that PM Modi will keep his promise: Javed Rana

Srinagar, Oct 19: Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology and Environment, and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmad Rana today hoped that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government would uphold the promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir regarding the restoration of statehood.

“We are hopeful that the Centre, especially the Prime Minister, will stick to the promises and ensure the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest,” he said while talking to reporters here.

He added that the resolution for the restoration of statehood, passed by the cabinet under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, was not done in secrecy.  He said that the decision was made transparently and was immediately communicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central Government.

Rana stressed that there has been no change in the government’s position regarding the statehood issue, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to fighting for the constitutional rights and guarantees of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “We will continue to fight for the guarantees and rights granted by the Constitution of India,” Rana said adding that the restoration of statehood remains a priority for the newly elected government.

The resolution for statehood comes amidst growing demands for the reinstatement of Jammu and Kashmir’s status as a full-fledged state, following its bifurcation into two Union Territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh—in August 2019, as part of the central government’s move to revoke its special status under Article 370.

As part of the next steps, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, is expected to travel to New Delhi in the coming days to personally discuss the matter with Prime Minister Modi and other key Union ministers.