Jammu, March 13: National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Friday reiterated his demand for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, saying the situation in the region would improve considerably once full statehood is reinstated.
Abdullah made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Srinagar, where he emphasised that restoring the political status of the former state should be prioritised to address governance and developmental challenges.
“The status of statehood should be restored here. The sooner this happens, the better the situation can improve here,” Farooq Abdullah told reporters.
His comments come amid continuing political discussions in Jammu and Kashmir regarding the restoration of statehood following the region’s reorganisation in August 2019.
The National Conference has consistently demanded the return of statehood, arguing that the move is essential for strengthening democratic governance and ensuring that local representatives have greater administrative authority.
Abdullah said that the return of statehood would create conditions for better governance and help address the concerns of people in the region.
“Things will improve considerably once the statehood is restored,” he said, reiterating the party’s long-standing demand.
Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have repeatedly called on the central government to restore the region’s statehood, which was revoked when the erstwhile state was reorganized into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Since then, several leaders across the political spectrum have urged the Centre to fulfil assurances regarding the restoration of statehood.
The central government has previously stated that statehood would be restored at an appropriate time after the completion of the delimitation process and the conduct of assembly elections. (KNT)
