Statehood not a privilege, it is our constitutional right: Rana

Mendhar, Poonch, Aug 17: Javed Ahmed Rana, Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, on Sunday said, “Statehood is not a privilege—it is our constitutional right. It embodies our voice, our identity and our collective future.”In a landmark move to build public consensus and mobilize grassroots support for the restoration of Jammu & Kashmir’s statehood, Rana launched the Signature Campaign from Mendhar, Poonch. The campaign was announced by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) in his Independence Day address in Srinagar.According to a statement issued here, while launching the campaign, Minister Rana described it as more than a political call—a people-driven movement to reclaim the democratic rights, constitutional identity and lost dignity of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.“This campaign is rooted in the voices of the common people who have, for too long, awaited the restoration of our statehood. It is about reclaiming what is rightfully ours,” Rana said, addressing a gathering in Mendhar. He called upon youth, civil society groups, intellectuals and citizens across the political spectrum to actively participate in the movement, emphasizing that the cause transcends political affiliations and ideological boundaries.“Let us rise above party lines and personal differences to stand united for the larger good of our people and our land,” he added.The campaign will span all regions and constituencies of Jammu & Kashmir, providing every citizen the opportunity to lend their voice to the cause through a signature. The objective is to create a broad-based democratic mandate for the restoration of full statehood, revoked in August 2019.In a major push to the campaign, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will personally visit all 90 Assembly constituencies, engaging directly with the people and collecting signatures in support of the demand.This movement marks a crucial chapter in Jammu & Kashmir’s democratic journey—grounded in peace, participation and the pursuit of political justice.