PM may announce restoration of statehood on Aug 15: J&K Dy CM

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hopefully announce restoration of statehood to J&K on August 15 from the Red Fort.

While addressing a public meeting at Bari Brahmana on Sunday, Choudhary said the downgrading of J&K from a full-fledged state into two UTs — Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh — was done arbitrarily and without consulting the people of J&K. “The people of J&K have never accepted the 2019 decision. The promise made by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister that statehood will be restored at an appropriate time must now be fulfilled,” he said.

Choudhary highlighted the achievements of the Omar Abdullah-led NC government including free travel for women in government-operated buses, enhancement of marriage assistance from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000 for Antyodya Anna Yojna (AAY) families, provision of 200 units of free electricity per month for AAY households, doubling of the monthly ration quota from 5 kg to 10 kg per person for AAY beneficiaries, enhancement old age pension, widow pension and handicapped pension from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000 for senior citizens.

Rattan Lal Gupta, provincial president of Jammu National Conference, emphasised that the Assembly elections of 2024 have sent a clear message that the massive mandate given by the people in favour of National Conference is a rejection of the 2019 move to bifurcate and downgrade the state of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that democratic mandate must be respected and reiterated the demand for empowerment of women folk and youths.