Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday approved a resolution passed by the cabinet led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, urging the central government to restore statehood to the Union Territory (UT), which was revoked in 2019.
“The cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Omar Abdullah on Thursday passed a unanimous resolution for restoration of statehood in its original form,” an official spokesperson told the news agency PTI.
The former state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union Territories—Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh—on August 5, 2019, when Article 370 was abrogated by the Centre.
While officials did not provide further details, they confirmed that the LG has endorsed the cabinet’s resolution. The spokesperson asserted that the restoration of statehood would mark the beginning of a healing process, reclaiming constitutional rights and protecting the identity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The cabinet has also decided to summon the Legislative Assembly at Srinagar on November 4 and advised the LG to summon and address the assembly, the spokesperson added.
Sinha’s approval comes following a cabinet meeting on Friday, where the resolution for statehood restoration was passed.
The meeting was presided over by J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, along with ministers Sakeena Masood Itoo, Javed Ahmad Rana, Javaid Ahmad Dar, and Satish Sharma.
Political parties on Friday described the resolution only on statehood and not on Article 370 as an “utter surrender” and a departure from the stand of the ruling National Conference.
Various political parties, including the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), People’s Conference (PC) and Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), denounced the move, reminding the NC of its poll promise to “strive to restore (Articles) 370-35A and statehood as prior to August 5, 2019”, and saying it was a departure from the pre-election stand.
(With inputs from PTI)
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