Jammu, Apr 04: Former chairman of the Jammu Municipal Corporation and General Secretary of the J&K Congress Committee, Satish Sharma on Friday urged the Central government to establish a clear timeline for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking after a meeting with Congress leaders, Sharma said the reversion to a Union Territory on August 5, 2019, has led to escalating unemployment and a disconnect between the Central government and the people of J&K.
He criticised the Central government’s imposition of decisions on the region, saying it undermines the democratic rights of its residents. While the Supreme Court’s intervention did prompt assembly elections, the Union Territory status restricts elected representatives from making significant decisions to benefit the populace, he said, adding that people want to know when they will be granted the status of a state again.
The Congress leader accused the BJP of deliberately hindering the functioning of the elected government to retain centralised power in Jammu and Kashmir. “The BJP does not want a coalition government to succeed. Since the past year and a half, local body and Panchayat elections have been continuously postponed, undermining local governance,” he said.
Highlighting the historical significance of the region, Sharma said Jammu and Kashmir is the first state in India to be downgraded to a Union Territory. He said the Central government’s reluctance to restore statehood stems from a desire to maintain control over the region, thereby limiting the autonomy of elected officials.
He reaffirmed the Congress party’s commitment to advocating for the restoration of state status. “The Congress would raise its voice from the streets to the Parliament in pursuit of this goal,” he said.
