Statehood for J&K must be restored without delay: MLA Rajpora
Pulwama: MLA Rajpora, Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Mir, on Thursday strongly pressed for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, saying it is not a favour but the constitutional right of the people.
Referring to the recent incidents of violence and unrest in Ladakh, Mir cautioned that “suppressing people will only lead to a stronger bounce,” stressing that New Delhi must take immediate steps to address the growing political and emotional alienation in the region.
Speaking to reporters at Pulwama, Mir reminded the central leadership of the assurances made in Parliament about the return of statehood.
“The Prime Minister and the Home Minister have themselves promised statehood on the floor of the House. But unfortunately, that commitment has not been fulfilled so far. People of J&K feel betrayed, and their faith in democratic institutions is being eroded,” he said.
He argued that the withholding of statehood has deprived people of their political empowerment.
“Democracy means power must rest with the people. But since 2019, the people of Jammu and Kashmir are being ruled through bureaucratic means. This is unacceptable. Our demand is simple and just—restore statehood immediately,” Mir added.
Mir further reiterated that peace and progress in the Union Territory are directly linked to political empowerment. “If New Delhi is serious about building trust and ensuring long-term peace, the first step must be to give people their rightful statehood,” he said.
