The Centre’s offer for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir might come with a “fine print”.The fine print: holding new elections for the government to rule J&K state as the previous elections were held for the government under J&K Union Territory.
The political parties in J&K including the ruling National Conference (NC), the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the Congress, and others have been demanding the return of statehood to J&K since 2019, and the Centre might oblige, but with a catch.
An official in the Home Ministry, who is privy to the development about the Centre’s response to the popular demand for the return of statehood to J&K, said, “The Centre might pay heed to the demands of these political parties, though not immediately.”
However, he said that the demand would be met on the condition that either statehood would be restored after the present government completes its term and the next elections would be held for electing the government under the J&K state.
According to him, the other way is that the statehood might be returned sooner but new elections would be held for electing the government under J&K state as the previous elections were held for a government under J&K Union Territory. Gk
