Civil society members in Srinagar, under the chairmanship of National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, have called on the central government to restore Jammu and Kashmir's statehood without any further delay. The gathering, held in Srinagar, saw participation from a cross-section of society, including former bureaucrats, academics, and social activists.
Key Demands Raised at the Meeting
The meeting, presided over by Farooq Abdullah, emphasized that the restoration of statehood is essential for the political stability and development of the region. Participants urged the Centre to fulfill its promise made in Parliament regarding the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. According to sources, the civil society members expressed concern over the delay and stressed that the prolonged union territory status has led to administrative and political uncertainties.
Participants and Their Views
Among those present were former chief minister Omar Abdullah, who also addressed the gathering. The attendees included representatives from various civil society organizations, who highlighted that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been waiting for the restoration of their statehood since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. Farooq Abdullah, in his address, said, "The Centre must restore statehood immediately to ensure democratic governance and address the aspirations of the people."
Political Context
The demand for statehood has been a recurring theme in Jammu and Kashmir politics. The central government has maintained that statehood will be restored at an appropriate time, but no specific timeline has been announced. The civil society meeting comes ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in the union territory, which are expected to be held later this year. Political parties have made statehood a key electoral issue.
Impact on Governance
The lack of statehood has been cited as a hurdle in effective governance, with civil society members arguing that the union territory status concentrates too much power with the Lieutenant Governor, undermining the democratic process. They called for a swift restoration to ensure that elected representatives have full authority over local matters. The meeting concluded with a resolution to continue pressing the demand through peaceful means and to build public awareness about the importance of statehood.
