Waiting for statehood

Calling the prevailing hybrid governance system in J&K as a “recipe for disaster,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has once again called for the restoration of statehood to the union territory. In an interview to the PTI, the CM made a case for a unified command, with an empowered elected government, where governance is not split between the Chief Minister and the Lieutenant Governor. He said that in the two months that he had been a CM, he didn’t see any benefit of a dual system of governance for a strategic region bordered by Pakistan and China. 

On the other hand, the union home minister Amit Shah has reiterated the promise of statehood to J&K “at an appropriate time.” He, however, didn’t give any timeline which leaves the reinstatement of statehood in near to medium future as anybody’s guess. Speaking at a national television channel’s programme, the home minister said that the last five years had improved the situation in J&K and it was manifested in rising tourist arrivals, reopening of cinema halls and the resumption of Tazia processions after 33 years. He also highlighted the investment received by the UT in these years which, according to him, was more than the former state got in 75 years.  

The union government withdrew J&K’s special status on August 5, 2019 and downgraded it into a union territory. This year, J&K held its first Assembly polls bringing the NC-Congress alliance to power. Since then, the Omar-led government has been seeking the return of statehood. The resolutions calling for restoration of special constitutional status and statehood figured as top achievements as the National Conference-led J&K coalition government completed its first month in power on November 18.

The resolution on statehood was promptly cleared by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. The CM later traveled to New Delhi to hand over the draft of the resolution to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Shah, urging them to reinstate statehood as it existed before August 4, 2019. But the centre has so far given little indication that it may grant it anytime soon. There is hope though. Considering that the home minister has once again assured its restoration, J&K may get it sooner than expected. Just like the Assembly elections were held when few people in the UT expected them to be held.