Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, June 10

National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured Chief Minister Omar Abdullah that the Centre would fulfil its commitment to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

“The Prime Minister has recently told Omar that he will fulfil his promise on restoration of statehood to J&K,” Abdullah told reporters in Anantnag.

The former chief minister said the NC continued to press for the restoration of statehood and expected the Centre to honour assurances made on the issue.

“We want not only the business rules but also restoration of statehood. Statehood is their promise before the world. We are waiting for it,” he said.

Abdullah said the Prime Minister’s commitment had been made publicly and expressed hope that the promise would be implemented soon.

The remarks come amid continuing political efforts by the ruling National Conference to secure the restoration of statehood to J&K, which was reorganised in August 2019.

The party has recently intensified its campaign on the issue and announced plans to hold a protest in New Delhi on the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session.

The decision was taken at a meeting of National Conference legislators chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on June 3, party leaders said.

Jammu and Kashmir has remained a Union Territory since the erstwhile state’s special status was revoked and it was reorganised into two Union Territories in 2019. The Centre has repeatedly stated that statehood would be restored at an appropriate time.