Republic Day Sounds

The observance of the 76th Republic Day marked the transformation in Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed over the past six years. It was also the first Republic Day for the newly elected government, which shares power with the Lieutenant Governor in a hybrid arrangement. And so far the arrangement has held up well with both the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Omar-Abdullah-led government largely choosing cooperation over friction.

In his Republic Day address, the LG laid emphasis on unity and progress, and also highlighted key development milestones from the successful completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link to record-breaking tourism figures. However, these advancements cannot obscure the pressing political and emotional need for statehood, which remains a critical issue for the people of Jammu & Kashmir.

Similarly, in his address in Srinagar, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary reiterated the long-standing demand for the restoration of statehood and constitutional protections for jobs and land for locals. He harked back to the promises made by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the floor of the Parliament about the early  restoration of statehood.

True, demand for statehood has been central to J&K’s political discourse in recent years. Although the central government has promised its early reinstatement, no timeline has been given. People in the UT thus see little prospect of the statehood’s restoration in the near term. But there’s reason to hope that the statehood would be granted sooner than expected. The PM Modi during his last visit to the region to inaugurate Z-Morh tunnel assured people that he keeps his promises.

Evidence suggests that the PM does keep his word. He did so with Assembly elections when no one in Kashmir believed they would ever be held. But the elections were not just held but also conducted in a free and fair manner, making it possible for a truly representative government to come to power. The CM Omar also acknowledged this fact during his speech at Z-Morh inauguration, with the PM in attendance. So, here’s looking forward to statehood, and sooner than later.