Jammu: J&K CM Omar Abdullah There was a mixture of hope and skepticism on Tuesday when Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal cited Home Minister Amit Shah’s assurance in Parliament that a decision to restore statehood to the Union Territory would be announced “soon”.“It’s been a year and a half since the democratically elected government took office and we’re still waiting,” Omar told reporters. “We hope we don’t have to wait too long.”Meghwal, speaking after an event at the Kashmir International Conference Center in Srinagar, called statehood “an important” and “very sensitive” issue. “When the federal home minister says in parliament you will get it right, you will get it,” he said, adding that a process was underway.Omar said patience is wearing thin. “We will not be satisfied until we get it. The process is ongoing but it is taking too long,” he said, adding that his government was still in constant contact with the Centre.Nearly six years ago, the Center abrogated Article 370 on August 5, 2019 and bifurcated the erstwhile state into two Union Territories – J&K and Ladakh. On December 11, 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the decision while urging restoration of statehood to J&K “as soon as possible”.Omar, who will take office on October 16, 2024, has raised this issue many times. On August 16 last year, he wrote to the BJP and other political parties while urging Parliament to introduce a bill to restore statehood.“Restoration must not be seen as a concession,” his letter said, warning against a precedent that would make statehood a matter of “discretionary favoritism.” He said the delay had an impact on the country’s constitutional values ​​and democratic ethos, citing the downgrade of J&J’s status in 2019 and the long wait for its reversal.
