Home Minister Amit Shah expressed that the BJP-led government is committed to grant full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir at the right time.
Confirming that “it will happen” the Minister also asked the political parties and their representatives to consider the condition of the former province, which was split into two Union Territories J&k with the legislative and Ladakh without one.
“Jammu and Kashmir will be given statehood at an appropriate time…Please understand the situation of the Union Territory and avoid to give any speech that misguides the people of J&K,” Shah said while speaking in the Lok Sabha.
In delivering a speech in support of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2021, which seeks to replace the Jammu and Kashmir frameworks of civil service officers with the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram Union Territory (AGMUT) framework, the Minister clarified that the Bill had nothing to do with the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We will give statehood. I have already said that it is a temporary system.”
On the issue of the opposition as to what happened in J&K in 17 months after the removal of Article 370, the Minister said, “what about your 70 years rule, if your are asking about our work?.”
“They should first think about themselves before asking me this question.
Taking into account the work of the Central Government in Jammu and Kashmir, the Minister said that Panchayati Raj had been formed in the Union Territory, with 51.7% voting without firing a single bullet. Later, he listed the measures that have been taken so far for the welfare of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister also said, “Jammu and Kashmir is in our hearts.”
On the issue of the Supreme Court’s opinion on the holding of a hearing on the repeal of Article 370 of the Jammu and Kashmir Agreement on 5 August 2019, after which the territory was split into two UTs, Shah said: “We are ready with our logic behind our step… but where is the Congress?”
“It doesn’t mean that we will not do anything for the welfare of Jammu and Kashmir until the Supreme Court starts its hearing on the matter. What kind of argument is it?”
As to the restriction on 2G and 4G services in Jammu and Kashmir, the Minister said, “This is not the time of the UPA, this is the Modi government. The restriction on 2G and 4G was to avoid spread of rumours.”
Earlier, proposing the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill 2021, Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy said the government was working to take Jammu and Kashmir along the road to progress. He said that about 170 central laws were enforced in Jammu and Kashmir after the repeal of Article 370 of the Constitution, which granted special status to the former province.
