National Conference president and former CM Farooq Abdullah on Sunday expressed concern over the continued delay in the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.In a statement issued here, Abdullah said the people of J&K had waited “patiently” and placed their faith in democratic institutions, yet the promise of restoring statehood remained unfulfilled.He emphasised that the “statehood is not a privilege but a constitutional right that reflects the democratic aspirations and identity of the people”.“Repeated assurances have been made at the highest levels regarding the restoration of statehood at the earliest. However, the absence of a clear timeline has created uncertainty and disappointment among the people,” Abdullah said.The statement comes days after Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal hinted at an early decision regarding the return of statehood to J&K. After Meghwal’s remarks, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, “We have been waiting for that good news for one-and-a-half years. I hope that we don’t have to wait any longer.”Political parties in Kashmir have been demanding the restoration of statehood to J&K. In 2019, after the abrogation of Article 370, the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh was divided into two UTs — J&K and Ladakh.Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have been stating that statehood would be restored to J&K, no decision has been taken yet. On Sunday, Farooq Abdullah said restoring statehood would strengthen democratic governance, ensure greater accountability and empower elected representatives to effectively address public concerns. He urged the Centre to honour its commitment without further delay.Abdullah reiterated that “safeguarding democratic rights and constitutional guarantees is essential for lasting peace, stability and development in Jammu and Kashmir.”Last year, Omar Abdullah had said optimism over the restoration of statehood was gradually fading, warning that further delays could erode whatever hope remains among the people.
