Restore statehood of J&K, Oppn urges govt

Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday wrote a letter urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to introduce legislation during Parliament's monsoon session, commencing next week, for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K)'s statehood.

- Snehashish Roy

They sought the inclusion of Ladakh in the Constitution's Sixth Schedule, which provides for the administration of tribal areas through autonomous councils with legislative, executive, judicial, and financial powers, and a degree of self-governance.

“We urge the government to introduce legislation in the Monsoon Session to grant full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and extend Sixth Schedule protections to Ladakh. This would address the cultural, developmental, and political aspirations of Ladakh’s people while safeguarding their land and identity,” said the leaders of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha in the letter, a copy of which HT has seen.

“For five years, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have consistently demanded restoration of full statehood. This demand is legitimate and rooted in their constitutional and democratic rights.”