Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 11: Former Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) president Dr. Farooq Abdullah expressed optimism that the Prime Minister might announce the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir during the upcoming budget session of Parliament. He emphasized that restoring statehood is crucial for addressing the region's challenges and ensuring efficient governance.
“Restoration of statehood is a must to solve the basic problems of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Six ministers cannot run a vast state like Jammu and Kashmir effectively. They are human beings and have limitations,” Dr. Abdullah said during an interaction with a news portal. Dr. Abdullah highlighted the repeated assurances by the Union Government regarding statehood restoration. He pointed out that commitments were made in both Parliament and the Supreme Court to reinstate Jammu and Kashmir's statehood. "I am hopeful that statehood would be restored," he added, reiterating the importance of the issue for the well-being of the region.
When asked how long it would take for the restoration, Dr. Abdullah candidly responded, "I don’t have a magic lamp. If I had one, I would declare that statehood would be restored tomorrow.”
He further mentioned that his son and former Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, had met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to advocate for the restoration of statehood. “The Parliament session is approaching, and I am hopeful that the Prime Minister will announce the restoration of statehood during this session,” Dr. Abdullah stated I hope the Prime Minister will announce restoration of statehood to J&K in the upcoming budget session of Parliament.
Restoring statehood is crucial for addressing the region's challenges and ensuring efficient governance.
I don’t have a magic lamp. If I had one, I would declare that statehood would be restored tomorrow.
My grandsons are lawyers. They should first focus on careers then think about politics.
Addressing speculation about one of his grandsons contesting the by-election for the Budgam Assembly seat, Dr. Abdullah firmly dismissed the rumors. “Not at all. My grandsons are lawyers. They should first focus on strengthening their careers in their profession. Only after excelling there should they think about politics,” he clarified.
He also noted that politics in the current scenario is not an easy path. "Politics these days are not an easy thing," he remarked, emphasizing the complexities and challenges of entering the political landscape.
The demand for the restoration of statehood has been a consistent agenda for Dr. Abdullah and his party since the region's special status under Article 370 was abrogated in August 2019. The reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh—has drawn widespread criticism, particularly over concerns about governance, local representation, and regional autonomy.
Dr. Abdullah’s renewed optimism reflects the continued push by regional political leaders for fulfilling the promises made by the central government. Restoring statehood has become a symbolic and practical demand aimed at addressing administrative challenges and restoring trust among the people of the region.
As the budget session of Parliament approaches, all eyes are now on the Union Government to see if it takes concrete steps toward meeting this long-pending demand. For the people of Jammu and Kashmir, statehood represents not just a political aspiration but also a means to achieve better governance and representation. | 