Hakeem urges GoI to restore J&K’s statehood in ‘pristine condition’

Srinagar, Dec 18: People’s Democratic Front (PDF) chairman, Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen on Monday urged the Central government to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood in its “pristine condition” as it stood before August 5, 2019.
In a statement issued here, Yaseen said restoring full statehood is a solemn commitment made by both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. He added that the Supreme Court has upheld the need for this assurance.
“People of Jammu and Kashmir have expressed their desire for full statehood through their massive participation in the 2014 assembly elections. The Central government must honour this mandate unequivocally,” he said.
The former minister said the people of J&K have faith in the democratic and secular values of India and the central leadership must respect their socio-political aspirations in good faith. He said the demand for statehood is not tied to any single political party but is a collective public yearning, which has also been supported by the Supreme Court.
The PDF Chairman called for constitutional guarantees to protect J&K residents’ rights over land and jobs. “J&K has a rightful claim over its own resources,” he said.