Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, July 7

More than 150 representatives of civil society in J&K on Tuesday adopted a resolution urging the federal government to restore full statehood to the region, lending fresh support to a political campaign led by the ruling National Conference.

The resolution was adopted at a meeting convened by National Conference President Farooq Abdullah at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. The gathering was attended by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, trade and business representatives, lawyers, academics, religious leaders and members of professional organisations.

Participants unanimously called on New Delhi to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood without further delay, describing it as essential for democratic governance and administrative accountability.

In a statement issued after the meeting, the National Conference said the resolution reflected the collective voice of civil society and urged the Centre to honour its commitment to restore J&K’s statehood.

The discussions focused exclusively on the constitutional and political implications of statehood and ways to broaden public participation in the campaign, according to party leaders.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the deliberations as constructive and said participants had offered valuable suggestions on taking the campaign forward.

Sources familiar with the meeting said several attendees advocated a wider, non-partisan movement involving political parties, civil society groups and professional bodies to press the demand before the central government.

The gathering marked one of the largest civil society meetings on the issue since August 2019, when the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh following the abrogation of Article 370.

The federal government has repeatedly stated that statehood would be restored at an appropriate time, though it has not announced a timeline.

The National Conference has intensified its campaign in recent weeks, announcing public conventions in Srinagar and Jammu before culminating in a planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20, coinciding with the opening of Parliament’s Monsoon Session.

Party leaders said lawmakers and Members of Parliament would participate in the protest before submitting a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu seeking restoration of statehood.

The party has also invited leaders of opposition parties to join the campaign in an effort to build wider political support.