Kharge, Gandhi Urge PM Modi to Restore Jammu and Kashmir Statehood

New Delhi, July 16 (PTI) – In a joint letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, have urged the government to introduce legislation in the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament to restore full statehood to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Additionally, they have called for legislation to include the Union Territory of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Kharge and Gandhi highlighted in their letter that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been persistently advocating for the restoration of their statehood over the past five years. They emphasized that this demand is rooted in both constitutional and democratic rights.

"It's imperative to understand that while Union Territories have been granted statehood in the past, the scenario with Jammu and Kashmir is unprecedented in independent India. For the first time, a full-fledged state was reduced to a Union Territory through bifurcation," stated Congress president Kharge and former party chief Gandhi.

The leaders pointed out that Prime Minister Modi has, on several occasions, reiterated the government's promise to restore statehood. Citing interviews and public addresses, they noted Modi's commitment, including statements made in Bhubaneswar on May 19, 2024, and at a rally in Srinagar on September 19, 2024.

The Union Government has also assured the Supreme Court during discussions on Article 370 that statehood would be reinstated "at the earliest and as soon as possible," they added.

"In light of these commitments, we urge the Government to present legislation in the upcoming Monsoon session to grant full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir," asserted Kharge and Gandhi.

Furthermore, they suggested that including Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule would significantly cater to the cultural, developmental, and political aspirations of the people of Ladakh, ensuring their rights, land, and identity are preserved.

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