sanjay pandita
Early Times Report
Jammu, July 23: Days after J&K Congress chief Tariq Hamid Karra ruled out joining the coalition government, senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh on Monday reaffirmed that the party will not be part of Omar Abdullah’s government until full statehood is restored to Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing media persons in New Delhi alongside other senior leaders, Singh stated that while the Congress is a coalition partner of the ruling National Conference, it has taken a principled stand to stay out of the government until its core demand—restoration of statehood—is met.
“The Congress has made clear promises to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, including the restoration of statehood. We are committed to fulfilling these promises and have launched a mass movement in that direction,” Singh said.
Highlighting the current administrative imbalance in the Union Territory, Singh pointed to the “strange situation” where an elected Chief Minister is being stopped by police from offering prayers and remains powerless in governance matters.
“He is being rendered helpless. No file moves without the Lieutenant Governor’s approval,” Singh said, adding that this must change. “Not only have the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister promised statehood, but even the Supreme Court of India has directed its restoration.”
Singh also demanded that the Union Territory of Ladakh be given an elected legislature, akin to the governance models of Delhi and Puducherry.
Earlier, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hamid Karra had also ruled out the party’s participation in the coalition government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, reiterating the Congress’s long-standing demand for full statehood.
Karra said the Congress would not join the government under the present political setup, which he described as “confused and marred by dual control.”
“From the very first day, when the cabinet was constituted in October 2024, we made it categorically clear that the Congress would not be part of the government unless full statehood is restored. That position remains unchanged,” Karra asserted. |
