Srinagar, Mar 04: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra on Tuesday clarified that for the Congress party, the concept of special status for Jammu and Kashmir after the Supreme Court’s verdict is “full statehood”.
Talking to reporters outside the Assembly in Jammu, Karra said for Congress, after the Supreme Court’s verdict, if there is any possibility of special status, it is statehood. “That remains our primary demand, and we will continue to stand by it,” he said.
He stressed the need for clarity on the issue, saying that different political parties interpret special status in various ways. “Clarity is essential. While different parties have their own interpretations, for Congress, post the Supreme Court ruling, special status means full statehood,” he said.
When asked whether Congress would advocate for Article 371, Karra avoided citing specific constitutional provisions but called for strong safeguards.
“It’s not about numbers; what matters is securing protection for land, jobs and natural resources,” he remarked.
The J&K Congress chief also criticised the government for failing to provide a clear roadmap for restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. “While statehood has been mentioned, there is no clarity on when or how it will be restored. This is a crucial issue that needs immediate attention,” he said.
Responding to the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) criticism that the government’s Vision Document lacks measures to revive businesses, Karra said that Congress has its own priorities. “That is their issue. We have our own concerns,” he added.
