Jammu: Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale Thursday reiterated that statehood to J&K would be restored soon as promised by the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah.
While addressing a press conference in Jammu, Athawale also described the abrogation of Article 370 and 35(A) a biggest success and achievement of PM-Modi led central government.
With regard to statehood, he said, “Centre has promised it. When it will restore, I cannot say exact. But as the Union Home Minister has already promised it inside the Patliament and outside here in J&K also. People too want it to restore and they should get it. So I can just tell that a decision in this connection (statehood) can be taken soon.”
Earlier this month, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said that Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir will be restored in due “course of time”, and reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have made it clear.
However, Rijiju, who holds the Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs portfolios, had declined to give a timeline for the restoration of Statehood to the Union Territory.
“The Prime Minister and the Home Minister made clear indications in the past that in due course of time, Statehood will be restored (to Jammu and Kashmir) and the powers and functions will be demarcated very clearly,” Rijiju told reporters in Srinagar on February 15.
He had stated that some Muslim MPs privately support the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill but are protesting due to pressure from their respective parties.
Rijiju had also emphasised the government’s focus on the region, noting that Prime Minister Modi has directed ministers to monitor progress at the grassroots level. He expressed confidence that J&K will soon emerge as one of the most prosperous and developed regions.
On the issue of recent Anti-Corruption Bureau raids involving two officials from the Srinagar Smart City Project, Rijiju had made it clear that any verified act of corruption would be met with strict action. He had reiterated the central government’s commitment to zero tolerance for corruption.
Statehood to J&K will be restored soon: Union Minister Athawale
