As Parliament session begins, Congress reminds PM to fulfill promise on statehood

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Congress President Tariq Karra on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfill his promise to restore Statehood.

Karra reminded the Union government of its repeated assurances, both in Parliament and outside, as well as from the land of Jammu and Kashmir itself, that Statehood would be reinstated.

He emphasized that the demand for Statehood restoration is not a protest but a principled stance of the Congress party.

“Before, during, and after the assembly election, the Congress has consistently stressed the importance of reclaiming the lost rights and guarantees that the BJP government took from us in 2019,” Karra said, speaking to reporters at the party headquarters in Srinagar.

He criticized the union government for failing to act on its commitments.

“The Union government, within and outside Parliament, and even from the land of Jammu and Kashmir, promised Statehood would be returned. Yet, those promises seem to be mere words,” Karra remarked.

As the Winter Session of Parliament began Monday, Karra said the Congress party wanted to send a clear message to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, reminding them of the commitments made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“We had thought that after the elections, perhaps, they (BJP) will give some roadmap of statehood, but that also did not happen. So, the statehood is being delayed every day. So we remind the Prime Minister of the promises he has made… The Prime Minister, on September 19 (while addressing a rally in Srinagar), promised to restore statehood, but so many months have passed, and no action has been taken on it,” Karra said.