TMC panel bats for J&K’s statehood, calls for empowerment of state govt
A delegation of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), currently visiting Kashmir, has called for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, saying the local government should be fully empowered. The five-member TMC delegation comprising Derek O’Brien, Nadeem-ul-Haq, Mamata Thakur, Manas Bhuiya, and Sagarika Ghosh arrived in Srinagar on Wednesday night.
On Thursday, the delegation confirmed that they held a 90-minute meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah the previous night. “Last night, we spent 90 minutes with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. It was a very constructive meeting,” said MP Sagarika Ghosh.
She stressed that the TMC believes the Omar Abdullah-led government must be fully empowered. “The Trinamool Congress upholds the principle of federalism, which is embedded in our Constitution. Empowering an elected government is an article of faith for us,” she said.
“It is a legitimate aspiration of the people. We fully support the elected government of Jammu and Kashmir and believe it must be the empowered authority responsible for the welfare of the people,” she added.
According to Ghosh, the Chief Minister elaborated on the issues plaguing border villages such as Poonch, Uri, and Rajouri. “Fifteen people have died in Poonch; more have perished in Rajouri and Uri. In fact, more people have died due to cross-border shelling from Pakistan than in incidents in Pahalgam,” she said.
Emphasising that “every life matters,” Ghosh said it was crucial that the suffering of people in these border areas be addressed urgently.
The Chief Minister assured the delegation that his administration is making every effort to provide medical assistance, rebuild schools and colleges, compensate those whose small businesses have been affected, and launch a comprehensive initiative for relief and rehabilitation in the affected areas.
Earlier, the TMC leaders described their visit to Kashmir as a journey of “solidarity, empathy, and sympathy.”
“It is the border villages of Jammu and Kashmir that have suffered the most due to shelling from across the border,” the delegation stated.
They called for greater attention to these neglected areas and pledged support for their development. “We are committed to rebuilding lives here. We stand with the people and will continue to support them in their hour of need. Our journey here reflects our commitment to an inclusive India, where the needs of every citizen are acknowledged and addressed,” Ghosh said.
The TMC delegation left for Poonch on Thursday to meet the people affected by Pakistani shelling.
