Diplomat Correspondent
Jammu: DD, Rattan Lal Gupta, senior leader and Provincial President JKNC, Jammu said that the BJP Government at the Centre has once again exposed its double standards by denying Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, despite making repeated promises before the nation. On the floor of Parliament, both the Prime Minister of India and the Home Minister of India gave categorical assurances that Statehood would be restored. Yet, Six years have passed and the people of J&K are still being deprived of their democratic and constitutional rights.
It is evident that the delay in granting Statehood is not due to administrative or constitutional hurdles, but due to political considerations of the ruling dispensation at the centre. By keeping J&K under Union Territory status, the BJP Government wants to retain direct control over our resources, land, and institutions, thereby undermining the democratic aspirations of the people.
Gupta emphasized that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are not beggars seeking concessions. Statehood is our right, our identity, and our dignity. Denying us this right while making hollow promises is an insult to the people’s mandate of J&K.
Gupta said that he National Conference, under the leadership of Omar Abdullah Chief Minister J&K, will continue to fight for the restoration of full Statehood. National Conference will raise this demand consistently in every forum inside the Assembly, in Parliament, and among the people. The denial of Statehood is an insult to the sacrifices and democratic spirit of the people of J&K.
Gupta urged the Centre to stop playing with the sentiments of our people and immediately fulfill its own solemn promise. The time has come to restore dignity, democracy, and the constitutional position of Jammu and Kashmir without any further delay.DD
