JK News Today
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has set all doubts on restoration of statehood to rest by reiterating the J&K would get status of a full-fledged state at an “ appropriate time “ after the Assembly elections , and questioned all the parties, including National Conference and Congress for raising the demand which is already a settled issue .
A majority of the non- BJP parties in their manifestoes have declared that they would fight for the restoration of the statehood to J&K if they come to power after the elections. Their campaign for restoration of statehood to J&K has been ;linked with the “ identity and dignity of the people of J&K.”
Home Minister served a reminder of his August 5, 2019 speech in the parliament at the time of abrogation of Article 370 and announcing that J&K would be split into two union territories of Ladakh and J&K, that the statehood would be restored to J&K at an appropriate time . He reiterated the similar declaration at the time of releasing BJP’s manifesto for the three-phased J&K Assembly elections in Jammu on Friday evening .
“ When I have stated it on the floor of the Parliament that J&K would get back its full statehood, then tell me where is the justification for making this demand by the parties in Kashmir,” Amit Shah while recalling the commitment made on the floor of the Parliament. He specifically pointed out that this status would be restored to J&K after the elections .
Amit Shah is aware of the sensitivities and sensibilities of the people of J&K about the statehood , and that’s what made him to assure them in reply to a question that his word in the Parliament is sanctimonious . There is no dilution in it, there is only issue about the timings . The Home Minister made two points clear that J&K would get back the statehood because of his statement on the floor of the Parliament in August 2019, and second that the elections were first step toward fulfilling that promise , and it will be delivered at an “ appropriate time.”
He silenced all the parties and critics claiming that it was an unprecedented act when a state was divided into two union territories, as he made it clear that the idea of restoration of statehood to J&K was embedded in the commitment made on the floor of the Parliament . That suggested that there is no going back from his word.
For the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who were worried about their elected Mas having no powers as all the major powers of police, law and order, finance and transfer of IAS officers rested with Lieutenant Governor , Home Minister’s assurance has given a meaning to the Assembly polls. He has made the Assembly polls vibrant and purposeful in J&K.
This will change the narrative in the elections . The local BJP leaders who were on backfoot who were on backfoot on the backfoot , on the issue because of an intense campaign of National Conference, Congress , PDP , can now occupy their space in the frontline.
