Pawan K. Verma’s Column- Why is Jammu and Kashmir Not Being the status of a full state? , Pawan K. Verma’s column: Why is Jammu and Kashmir not being given full state status?

Pawan K. Verma former Rajya Sabha MP and diplomat

I have recently returned from a visit to Kashmir. While the valley is as beautiful as before, it looks deserted due to tourists’ indifference after the Pahalgam attack. During my visit, I got a chance to interact with many Kashmiris.

Apart from the common citizens there, Dr. Karan Singh, Farooq Abdullah, former Supreme Court Judge Sanjay Krishna Kaul, Vijay Dhar and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were also included. But the same question was flashed in everyone’s mind: When will the status of the full state of Jammu and Kashmir be restored?

The current status of Jammu and Kashmir as a center is against both the federal spirit and the democratic nature of the Constitution. We should not have any confusion about this that the system of the Union Territory is to limit the strength of the elected government in a democratic manner.

In terms of its size, population and historical heritage, it is not only absurd to make a state like Jammu and Kashmir a union territory, but this is the first time in the last 75 years when an existing state has been made union.

To be fair, it is beyond comprehension why the central government is avoiding the restoration of the status of the entire state. While giving the status of Article 370 in 2019 and giving the status of Union Territory to Jammu and Kashmir, Home Minister Amit Shah promised in Parliament that ‘full state status’ will be made effective again when the appropriate time comes.

In August 2023, the Center had assured in the Supreme Court that the status of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is temporary. The exact words of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta were: ‘I assure that we are moving progressively to make Jammu and Kashmir a full state.’ A five-member bench headed by the Chief Justice had directed in December 2023 that the full state status of Jammu and Kashmir should be returned. Elections should be held by September 2024 for this.

Elections were held in September 2024 only. They also ended independent and fairly, with 60 percent of the polling. The National Conference got a clear majority in the 90 -member House and Omar Abdullah became the Chief Minister. But the first resolution unanimously passed by the newly formed Legislative Assembly was to demand the restoration of the entire state.

And despite this, the Center has silenced the issue. The Pahalgam attack took place on 29 April. Every Kashmiri stood fearlessly against this brutal attack. Traders closed the markets, citizens took out candle-light marches, tied black straps in mosques and the Valley Chief Maulvi Mirwaiz Umar Farooq condemned the attack.

All Kashmiris expressed condolences. This was an unprecedented attempt by Kashmiris to express solidarity against Pakistan-proposed terrorism. He was strongly protesting the communal violence, which also hurts his employment, because tourism in Kashmir is a major source of income.

This was the time when the central government should have started the process of restoring full state status in view of the solidarity of Kashmiris against the attack. Especially because Omar Abdullah can be trusted that he will work positively with the Center. Omar Abdullah is not an irresponsible extremist.

But instead, the Center, taking indiscriminate action, started demolishing the houses of relatives and neighbors of suspected militants, which was a direct violation of the Supreme Court’s instructions. It also gradually ended the spirit created by the Pahalgam attack in Kashmiris. More than this, he also found it derogatory that the Chief Minister whom he had chosen had no role in law and order. They were not even informed about security operations.

After all, the question is not whether Jammu and Kashmir will get the status of full state again or not. The question is, why has it not been done yet? Because the strength of democratic India lies not in maintaining power for a long time, but in the spirit of trusting citizens.

In view of the solidarity of Kashmiris against the Pahalgam attack, the process of restoring the status of full state should have started. Omar Abdullah can be trusted that he will work positively with the Center. (These are the author’s own views)