In this petition, they have sought the immediate restoration of statehood to J&K: MY Tarigami
Former civil servants and civil society members have submitted a letter petitioning Parliamentarians to push for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir during the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament.
The petition was handed over to several MPs at a public meeting organized by the ‘Forum for Human Rights in Jammu and Kashmir’ in Delhi on Wednesday.
Signed by several individuals, the petition stated that the restoration of statehood is essential not only for peace-building in Jammu and Kashmir but also for upholding the federal structure of the Indian Constitution.
“This is crucial as all the states of our Republic can become vulnerable to the rise of centralising and authoritarian trends in our polity,” the petition reads.
The Monsoon session of Parliament will continue until August 21, with a recess from August 12 to 18.
CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami said the public meeting was held under the chairmanship of Dr Farooq Abdullah.
“In this petition, they have sought the immediate restoration of statehood to J&K. The petition will be given to all non-BJP parties so that their MPs can raise the issue in Parliament,” he told news agency KINS.
The petition proposes an amendment to Articles 1 and 3 of the Indian Constitution, stating that no existing state should be converted into a Union Territory.
“Your support for the statehood demand will demonstrate Parliamentarians’ solidarity with Jammu and Kashmir’s political leadership and legislators,” the petition said. “The unconstitutional removal of statehood has been pending for six years. It must not be allowed to set a precedent that threatens the federal structure of India.”
The petitioners also noted that the ongoing session is expected to include a full discussion on the Pahalgam terrorist attack and its aftermath, including Operation Sindoor.
“We hope many of these issues will be addressed during the session to build a bipartisan political consensus on the threat of terrorism, and the future of democracy in this deeply troubled region, where many people continue to feel alienated and mistreated,” they added.
They urged MPs not to lose sight of the “critical issue of the loss of statehood and the downgrading of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories” during the discussions.
“A powerful plea by you and your party colleagues for restoring statehood with utmost urgency is required,” the petitioners concluded. (KINS)
