Tag: Statehood

Elections, Statehood Likely After New Government Formation At Centre: Muzaffar Baig

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SRINAGAR: Former Deputy Chief Minister JK, Muzaffar Hussain Baig on Tuesday said that assembly elections and restoration of statehood will likely be in place after new government formation will take place in Centre. He said abrogation of Article 370 and 35(A) was an extraordinary decision of Government of India to deal with extraordinary situation.
KNS reported that the former Deputy CM Muzaffar Hussain Baig said, “I think neither assembly elections will be held nor statehood to JK will be returned back until there is new government formation in the Centre.
“GoI want huge participation of people in forthcoming elections here so they will take some steps including restoration of statehood after 2024 elections across the country. The huge participation of people in polls is possible only once they will restore statehood to JK, so GoI will give it back after 2024 elections at the centre,” Muzaffar Baig said.
He said since article 370 and 35(A) were revoked, Kashmir witnessed no rebellion against India.
“The people did not indulge in stone pelting and other things after reading down of article 370. Hundred welfare schemes have been implemented in JK which were not executed earlier. I feel there will be a huge participation of people in upcoming elections whenever it will be held,” he said.
To a query, the former Deputy CM said some people termed the present situation in J&K as “peace of graveyard” which is not reality. “With near elimination of militancy people of J&K and particularly people of Kashmir are in a positive frame of mind. People have adopted realistic approach. For peace in J&K, I give credit to people as they chose the path of realistic politics to let peace prevail here,’ he said.
He said the local political leaders should keep their tune low against New Delhi. “Our politicians at this juncture should think about the interest of people instead of gaining personal points. Elections cannot be held in an overnight. It needs some steps to be taken on ground, and GoI is working on that,” he said.
When asked about former CM J&K Ghulam Nabi Azad’s quit from Congress, Baig said he may have not received such importance from present leadership in the Congress which he was receiving since the times of Indira Gandhi. “He was dear of Indira Gandhi. His quit from the Congress was not only an emotional step but he was willing to work for his own people at local level. He is a true nationalist,” Baig said.

About abrogation of Article 370 and 35(A), the former Deputy CM said extraordinary situation demands extraordinary decisions. “People were getting killed due to militancy and government took an extraordinary decision and at the same time it introduced positive and welfare schemes for people”.
About Gupkar Alliance which was formed to fight for restoration of Statehood to J&K, the former Deputy CM said “The draft of Gupkar declaration was given by me and former-politician-turned-IAS officer Shah Faisal wrote the draft. This was an act of hope but practically that could not be implemented”.

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#Elections #Statehood #Government #Formation #Centre #Muzaffar #Baig
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

April 18, 2023
JK To Regain Statehood Soon: Union Minister.

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SRINAGAR: Ramdas Athawale, the Indian Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, stated that the abrogation of Article 370 was carried out with the aim of promoting development and peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
Furthermore, he mentioned that Jammu and Kashmir, currently a union territory, will soon regain its status as a state. This is due to a commitment made by Home Minister Amit Shah, and the Modi government will be considering it in the near future.
“After granting statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, the people of J&K will get the right to vote,” he said, “adding that state assembly elections can be held shortly.”
“For development and peace in Jammu and Kashmir,” the minister said, “the abrogation of Article 370 was carried out.” (KNS)

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#Regain #Statehood #Union #Minister
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

March 24, 2023
Jammu Kashmir Politicians To Meet EC, Central Leaders For Early Polls, Statehood

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SRINAGAR: The non-BJP all-party meeting in Jammu convened by Dr Farooq Abdullah has decided that they will meet the Election Commission for early elections in federally ruled Jammu and Kashmir. They said the Lt Governor-led dispensation does not represent the people of the erstwhile state.
Dr Farooq Abdullah addressing a one day workers convention at Chitragam in Shopian on September 5,2022
“There is uncertainty everywhere in Jammu and Kashmir. It is the right of State Assembly to take a call on imposition of property tax like issues,” Dr Farooq has told the meeting. “This is a temporary government. It is not a people’s government. It is a government of Delhi. People’s government is Assembly where members have to decide what is right and what is wrong.”
Dr Abdullah told reporters that religion was used to create division between Hindus and Muslims in the region. “We must not forget that Jammu and Kashmir is a secular state and will remain secular. All faiths in the region live shoulder-by-shoulder together. Jammu and Kashmir is the crown of India and with the grace of God, it will remain the Crown of India in future as well,” he told the reporters after the meeting was over.
Regretting the politics of division, Dr Abdullah asked: “The politics of fear and hate is not new. What will they do to 22-24 crore Muslims? Will they throw them in the sea or will they send them to China?”
Dr Abdullah called for the restoration of statehood and early elections. “We want Statehood to be restored and elections to be held. For the first time in the history of the nation, a proud State was reduced to a Union Territory (UT). It was a tragedy,” Dr Abdullah said. “We are an integral part of the nation. We belong to this nation, so why are they doing this to us?”
Insisting that there was an uncalled delay in starting the democratic process, Dr Abdullah said the administration is claiming an improvement in the situation. “The government claims the situation has improved in Jammu and Kashmir. A G-20 meeting is being planned in May. Why the delay in conducting Assembly elections?” he said.
Announcing the outcome of the meeting, Dr Abdullah said a delegation of Jammu and Kashmir leaders will leave for Delhi and apprise all the national political parties about the prevailing situation. “Uncertainty prevails in Jammu and Kashmir after the Union government changed its status and took over all its affairs,” Dr Abdullah said. “We hope they will raise our issues appropriately in the upcoming Parliament session.”
Lashing at the media, the NC President said the media lacks the guts to broadcast the ground realities. “I know the situation is adverse right now and you too are forced to succumb before the circumstances,” he said.

The meeting hosted by Dr Farooq Abdullah at his Bathandi residence was attended by National Panthers Party leader Harshdev Singh, Congress chief Viqar Rasool Wani, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Taranjit Singh Tony, CPI(M) leader MY Tarigami, Shiv Sena president Manish Sahwany and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Amrik Singh Reen.

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#Jammu #Kashmir #Politicians #Meet #Central #Leaders #Early #Polls #Statehood
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

March 11, 2023
Early Elections and Restoration Of Statehood Way Forward: AS Dulat

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SRINAGAR: Ex-RAW chief AS Dulat has suggested early elections and the restoration of statehood as the way forward for Jammu and Kashmir. In an interview with Hindustan Times at an event in Chandigarh, Dulat stated that empathy is required for the region, just like the border-sensitive state of Punjab.
Dulat further stated that Kashmiris have reconciled themselves to the abrogation of Article 370, and the issue is now alive only in political rhetoric and the case in the Supreme Court. Since the situation in the Valley is under control, it is time to move forward politically.
Dulat suggested that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi were to visit Srinagar and announce elections and restore statehood, he would win over Kashmiris. Kashmiris want peace with honor and dignity, and the biggest fear for the past 25 years has been what will happen if they are reduced to a minority in their own land.
Dulat also defined Kashmiriyat as togetherness and cited the crowds that joined Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra on its last leg in Anantnag. He reiterated the message for New Delhi that Kashmir needs a leader who can manage the Valley and Delhi and understand both. He placed his trust in traditional mainstream parties of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly NC leader and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah.
“Rahul promoted the idea of India in Kashmir,” he said, reiterating the message for New Delhi. “Kashmir needs a leader who can manage the Valley and Delhi. A leader who understands both. NC leader and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah can bridge dil ki doori and dilli ki doori,” he said, reposing faith in traditional mainstream parties of Jammu and Kashmir.

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#Early #Elections #Restoration #Statehood #Dulat
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

March 4, 2023
Restore Statehood Without Any Delay: Karan Singh

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SRINAGAR: Senior Congress leader and former Sadar-e-Riyasat of erstwhile J&K State, Dr. Karan Singh has said that there is a lack of communication between public and bureaucrats in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir.
He stated that assembly elections should be held in J&K in a free and fair manner and Statehood should be restored to the UT without any delay.
When asked to comment on the bifurcation of J&K State into two Union Territories, he said, “We should look ahead rather than looking back and added that same remained his principle in life.”
Replying to a question of taking back the regions of J&K occupied by Pakistan, he said that it was not easy as the same could not be materialized without a war which only brings deaths and destruction.
Singh said that forceful religious conversions are not good things be these happen in India or in Pakistan. He was speaking in a session on Vedanta organized by FICCI FLO J&K wherein he educated a gathering on Gyan Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karam Yoga, Raj Yoga and also touched Hath Yoga.

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#Restore #Statehood #Delay #Karan #Singh

( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

March 1, 2023
Congress Silent On Art 370, Wants Early Statehood and 6th Schedule to Ladakh

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SRINAGAR: Kashmir did figure in the just concluded 3-day All India Congress Committee (AICC) plenary session in Raipur. The resolution offered clear ideas about its Kashmir policy, apparently vindicating what was already around.
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka in Kheer Bhawani temple in Ganderbal after the Bharat Jodo Yatra was formally over on January 31, 2023.
There were two mentions of Kashmir. One in Rahul Gandhi’s speech after the session was over and another in the party’s resolution.
“52 years past and I still don’t have home, but when reached Kashmir felt like home,” Rahul Gandhi said. He concluded his yatra in Srinagar and made a speech amid a snowfall. Later he spent many days in Gulmarg to cool his heels. “Yatra was to make people of all castes and age groups feel at home. People were not talking about political things to me during yatra but it all changed when I reached Kashmir (sic).”
Gandhi’s Kashmir links apart, the grand old party is not interested in reinstating Article 370 or retaining encouraging Ladakh to rejoin Jammu and Kashmir. It wants early restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and protect Ladakh culture by the extension of the Sixth Schedule.
“The people of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have always stood by the country and its sovereignty. Congress reaffirms that the whole of Jammu & Kashmir is part of India. Owing to the drastic steps taken in August 2019, the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir has been bifurcated summarily,” the draft resolution read. “Congress will strive to restore complete statehood for the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, and bring Ladakh and its people under the protection of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.”
Gandhi in Srinagar had also asserted that his party would want early elections in Jammu and Kashmir and restoration of the statehood. He avoided Article 370.
Interestingly, Home Minister Amit Shah asserted on the floor of the house on the day he read down the special status of Jammu and Kashmir that statehood will be restored and elections will be held. However, he offered no deadline for either of the two commitments.
Congress’s silence on the special status of Jammu and Kashmir indicated that the party will avoid raking an issue that will cost it in elections. A section within Congress is not opposed to the August 5, 201decision-makingng though they insist the way it was done could have been avoided.

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#Congress #Silent #Art #Early #Statehood #6th #Schedule #Ladakh
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

February 26, 2023
For Statehood, Sixth Schedule, Ladakh Leaders Protest In Delhi

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SRINAGAR: Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance, an amalgam of trade unions, social, political and religious groups from Ladakh held protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The protest was meant to press for their four demands including full statehood, sixth schedule under Indian Constitution, job reservation, a separate Public Service Commission for Ladakh, and two parliamentary seats for Leh and Kargil.
“It has been four years and we cannot see any development happening in Ladakh even as we were promised development when the UT was made,” the protestors was quoted as saying by reports.
They said government’s ignorance towards the Ladakh forced them to reach the national capital as the development and safeguards and reservation for locals they expected didn’t come so far.
“We are concerned about our cultural identity, political representation as well as job security. LG and a few other bureaucrats can’t decide our future,” they said.
A protester said that they are disheartened witnessing young people not being able to gets jobs.
“The government has supposedly promised twelve thousand roles, but these are merely on paper. Over the last three years since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the government has not been able to develop a plan for Ladakh,” he stated.
On January 26, Wangchuk, the Ladakh-based engineer turned innovator had announced a five-day long hunger strike at 18,380 feet high Khardung to invite attention of the BJP-led Centre to the demands of the people of Ladakh, including extension of sixth schedule of the Constitution and environmental protection form unchecked industrial and commercial expansion.

The Apex and Kargil Alliance objected to the composition of the High Powered Committee announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs and headed by the Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanad Rai to discuss safeguards for the Union Territory of Ladakh. They demanded their four points to be included in the agenda of the committee.

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#Statehood #Sixth #Schedule #Ladakh #Leaders #Protest #Delhi
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

February 16, 2023
Poll Body To Take Call On J&K Elections, Statehood After Assembly Polls: Amit Shah

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SRINAGAR: Restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), as promised by the Centre, would be done after the Assembly poll in the Union Territory (UT) and a call to conduct elections would be taken by the Election Commission of India (ECI), Union Home Minister Amit Shah said today.
Talking to news agency ANI in a interview, Shah noted that there has been a marked improvement in the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir as the lowest militancy-related incidents were reported in the recent past.
He also insisted that Article 370, which was done away with by the Centre in August 2019, had actually harmed the country and the BJP had always been against it.
Noting that development in J&K was leading to gradual ending of militancy, Shah said, “See all the figures. There is a lot of change in Jammu and Kashmir.” Indicating that he could not comment on the timing of the poll in J&K, Shah said, “I had clearly stated that statehood will be restored in Jammu and Kashmir after elections. The process for preparation of voters’ list is nearing completion in the UT. Now, the Election Commission has to take a call on elections.”
On the issue of the emergence of new leadership in J&K, Shah said that new leadership would emerge from local bodies where poll had been held earlier. “The panches and sarpanches, who have been elected…new leadership will emerge from them…Since the time militancy started in J&K, the militancy-related figures are at their lowest today. Crores of tourists and ‘yatris’ are visiting J&K now. This is a huge change,” he noted.
Shah said removing Article 370 has been on the agenda of BJP and Jana Sangh. He also referred to India’s first PM Jawaharlal Nehru in the context of Article 370. “Since 1950, it was on our agenda to remove Article 370 from J&K. Today, the way J&K is witnessing development and decrease in militancy shows that change is coming,” he said. Shah said those slamming the BJP should answer in whose tenure militancy grew in J&K.
“As far as elections are concerned, do they not remember that local body polls were held under our rule? These did not take place for 70 years. Three families were holding sway in J&K and they are making noise…Farooq Abdullah had gone to England. In whose tenure, militancy grew…there should be an answer,” Shah said.

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#Poll #Body #Call #Elections #Statehood #Assembly #Polls #Amit #Shah
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

February 15, 2023
Restoration of democratic process, Statehood utmost priority in J&K: AICC MP Jairam Ramesh

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Srinagar, Jan 28: Member of Parliament and General Secretary Incharge Communication, AICC, Jairam Ramesh Saturday said that the restoration of democratic process and Statehood are the utmost priority in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Bharat Jodo Yatra is not about the alliance between the political parties. It has nothing to do with the elections and other related process. The yatra is meant to make a platform for 2024,” he said while addressing a news conference today at PCC headquarters in Srinagar.
He said that the security arrangements unlike yesterday were adequate. He further added that the restoration of democratic process and restoration of Statehood is the utmost priority at present.
Ramesh further said that of total 136 days, Rahul Gandhi led yatra marched 4080 kilometers in 116 days in which the people from different walks of the life participated and extended their support.
In J&K also, the yatra was held in five districts each in Jammu and Kashmir while a main and culmination function will be held on January 30 and flag hoisting ceremony will be done at PCC headquarters in Srinagar. He further said that the main function will be held at Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium here in Srinagar—(KNO)
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#Restoration #democratic #process #Statehood #utmost #priority #AICC #Jairam #Ramesh
( With inputs from : roshankashmir.net )

January 28, 2023
Restoration Of Democratic Process, Statehood Utmost Priority In J&K: Jairam Ramesh

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SRINAGAR: Member of Parliament and General Secretary Incharge Communication, AICC, Jairam Ramesh Saturday said that the restoration of democratic process and Statehood are the utmost priority in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Bharat Jodo Yatra is not about the alliance between the political parties. It has nothing to do with the elections and other related process. The yatra is meant to make a platform for 2024,” he said while addressing a news conference today at PCC headquarters in Srinagar.
He said that the security arrangements unlike yesterday were adequate. He further added that the restoration of democratic process and restoration of Statehood is the utmost priority at present.
Ramesh further said that of total 136 days, Rahul Gandhi led yatra marched 4080 kilometers in 116 days in which the people from different walks of the life participated and extended their support.
In J&K also, the yatra was held in five districts each in Jammu and Kashmir while a main and culmination function will be held on January 30 and flag hoisting ceremony will be done at PCC headquarters in Srinagar.
He further said that the main function will be held at Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium here in Srinagar. (KNO)

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#Restoration #Democratic #Process #Statehood #Utmost #Priority #Jairam #Ramesh

( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

January 28, 2023