The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet has successfully passed a resolution calling on the Union Government to restore statehood to the region, receiving clearance from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
During a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday, the Cabinet unanimously approved the resolution, emphasizing the need to restore statehood “in its original form” as the top priority on the agenda.
Following this, the resolution was forwarded to Sinha for approval, in line with the procedural requirements for a Union Territory.
A government statement issued on Saturday remarked, “Restoring statehood will mark the beginning of a healing process, reclaiming the constitutional rights and protecting the identity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Furthermore, the Cabinet has empowered the Chief Minister to engage with the Prime Minister and the Government of India regarding the restoration of statehood.
The government emphasized that “protecting J&K’s unique identity and the constitutional rights of its people is fundamental to the newly elected government’s policy.”
However, the Omar Abdullah administration has faced criticism from the opposition for prioritizing the statehood resolution over the revocation of Article 370 and routing it through the Cabinet. Official sources indicated to The Indian Express that “Article 370 is a legislative matter, whereas statehood is a government issue, which is why the statehood resolution was addressed first.”
Once the resolution is approved by the Raj Bhawan, the Chief Minister plans to travel to the national capital “in the coming days” to meet with the Prime Minister and Union Ministers regarding this issue.
Additionally, the Cabinet has scheduled the Assembly to convene in Srinagar on November 4 and has advised the Lieutenant Governor to address it.
The draft address for the Legislative Assembly’s inaugural session has also been presented to the Council of Ministers for further discussion and consideration.
The Council has recommended that Mubarik Gul be appointed as Protem Speaker, responsible for administering the oath to elected members on October 21, 2024.