J&K Cabinet approves resolution seeking restoration of statehood in its ‘original form’

Omar Abdullah to meet PM, Union Ministers after cabinet nod to statehood demand

KNO

Srinagar, Oct 19 : Two days after J&K cabinet approved a resolution urging the Union Government to restore the statehood of Jammu & Kashmir in its original form, the Jammu & Kashmir Government on Saturday said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah would be visiting New Delhi in the next few days to take up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministers.

In an official handout, as per news agency—Kashmir New Observer (KNO), the government said that the cabinet has passed a resolution urging the Union Government to restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. “The Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday passed a unanimous resolution for restoration of statehood in its original form,” reads the handout.

It said that the restoration of statehood will be the beginning of a healing process, reclaiming the constitutional rights and protecting the identity of people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The government said that the Cabinet has authorised the Chief Minister to take up the matter with the Prime Minister and Government of India for restoration of statehood. “Protection of Jammu and Kashmir’s unique identity and constitutional rights of people remains the cornerstone of the newly elected government’s policy,” the government said.

An official spokesperson said that the Chief Minister would be proceeding to New Delhi in coming days to meet the Prime Minister and Union Ministers in this regard.

The decision was made public two days after it received the nod of the council of ministers headed by Omar Abdullah. It was released after an approved record of the decision was communicated to the Lieutenant Government.

The cabinet meeting on Thursday was attended by deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary and ministers Sakina Itoo, Javed Rana, Javed Dar and Satish Sharma.

After emerging victorious, Omar Abdullah had said that the cabinet in its first meeting would pass a resolution seeking restoration of statehood. In its manifesto, NC had promised to pass a resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, in its first list of business after elections, against the Centre’s decision to strip the region of its statehood and special status.

In August 2019, the Union Government enacted the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act to bifurcate the erstwhile state into two Union Territories. On October 31, 2019, J&K lost its statehood with its conversion into a Union Territory—(KNO)