 Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 4: Senior Congress leader and former Sadr-e-Riyasat of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Karan Singh, has endorsed the demand for restoring statehood to the erstwhile state. Dr. Singh’s statement follows Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s assertion that reclaiming statehood remains the most significant challenge for his National Conference government.
In a recent interview, Dr. Singh, the son of the last Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh, condemned the downgrading of Jammu and Kashmir from a full-fledged state to a Union Territory. Describing the move as unacceptable, he called for the immediate restoration of statehood along with domicile laws to safeguard the rights of local residents. He specifically advocated for land ownership protections similar to those in Himachal Pradesh, emphasizing the importance of preserving the region's identity and rights.
Dr. Singh reiterated his stance after the successful conduct of the October 2024 Assembly elections, which he hailed as free and fair. He maintained that restoring statehood is the logical next step and urged the central government to fulfill its commitment to this end. Highlighting the Dr Karan Sigh has called for the immediate restoration of statehood along with domicile laws to safeguard the rights of local residents.
He advocated for land ownership protections similar to those in Himachal Pradesh.
He emphasized that the process should proceed without delay while the political climate remains conducive.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had also reaffirmed his government’s focus on restoring statehood.
On Thursday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also reaffirmed his government’s focus on restoring statehood. Addressing the issue, he expressed hope that the central government would honor its promise, describing the Union Territory status as a temporary phase. While acknowledging the option of legal recourse, Omar emphasized that his primary approach would be to hold the central government accountable to its commitments.
Earlier, Dr. Karan Singh praised Omar Abdullah for reviving the traditional Darbar Move, a practice introduced by his ancestor Maharaja Ranbir Singh to bridge the cultural, linguistic, and geographical divides between Jammu and Kashmir. Dr. Singh commended this bold decision, calling it a step toward fostering unity and harmony between the two regions.
“The Darbar Move was instituted to address the significant differences between the regions, ensuring peaceful coexistence,” Singh remarked, expressing confidence that its revival would serve the people’s interests in both Jammu and Kashmir. | 