Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 16: Kashmir centric parties are in a shock because Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not mentioned even a single word about restoration of statehood to J&K during his Independence Day address on Saturday.
For the last one week, Kashmir centric parties through different modes were trying to build pressure on the Union Government to make an announcement to grant statehood to J&K. These parties, especially some leaders, were expecting that their pressure tactics would work like the previous regime and the Union Government would make an announcement in this regard.
Although the Prime Minister has promised an elected government in J&K, he has not touched the issue of granting statehood. For the last one week, an aggressive pressure tactics campaign has been launched by these leaders and parties through different modes to influence the Centre.
Credible sources said that it was part of their pressure tactics that some leaders publically announced that they were not interested in restoration of statehood but they want Article 370 and 35-A back. “This demand was raised only to build pressure on the Centre to grant statehood as early as possible otherwise these leaders would raise demand of bringing back Art 370 and 35-A”, sources revealed.
Prime Minister announced that the “delimitation work is on and once it is completed, the elections to the assembly will be held and then the J&K will have its own MLAs and ministers.”.
The Prime Minister hinted that J&K Assembly elections could be held soon and said that he was "committed" to the Union Territory having its own chief minister and ministers.
Referring to his government's move to abrogate Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, the prime minister also claimed that the past one year had been a "journey of development" for the Union Territory and women and Dalits in the UT received their rights. |
