Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra on Thursday urged the Centre to announce a clear timeline for restoring statehood to the Union Territory, saying the continued uncertainty has weakened public trust in governance.
Participating in the motion of thanks on the Lieutenant Governor’s address in the Legislative Assembly, Karra said the core political demand of the people — restoration of statehood — remains unaddressed. He noted that while the issue found mention in the previous address, it was absent this time.
“The LG spoke of participatory governance and public trust, but how can such trust exist when the people’s core demand — restoration of statehood — remains unresolved,” Karra said. He added that the present Assembly came into existence only after the intervention of the Supreme Court ensured the restoration of the democratic process.
Referring to statements by the Centre that statehood would be restored at an “appropriate time,” the Congress leader asked the government to define a timeframe. “What is the right time? What is its measure and standard? How long will the people of Jammu and Kashmir have to wait?” he said.
Karra said senior Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, have raised the demand for immediate restoration of statehood in Parliament and through formal communication with the Prime Minister.
In an apparent swipe at the BJP, he said that while most people want full statehood restored to a united Jammu and Kashmir, some voices are advocating separate statehood for Jammu. He cautioned that such proposals could deepen regional mistrust and weaken collective strength.
The Congress leader also said the LG’s address did not adequately address humanitarian concerns relating to the rehabilitation of migrant Kashmiri Pandits and refugees from 1947, 1965 and 1971.
He called for a comprehensive and dignified rehabilitation plan for Kashmiri Pandits, stating that symbolic or purely economic measures would not be sufficient. He proposed the formation of an all-party committee of MLAs to initiate structured dialogue with the Kashmiri Pandit community and prepare a practical roadmap for their safe return.
On West Pakistani refugees, Karra said the one-time assistance package of Rs 30 lakh per family approved during the previous UPA government should be fully implemented, noting that only Rs 5 lakh per family has been disbursed so far. He also demanded the creation of a dedicated welfare board to address their pending land, settlement and livelihood issues.
