Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 15: Prominent Kashmiri leader, Ashok Bhan, today said that Prime Minister and the Home Minister have to live up to their public commitments made inside the Parliament and in public meetings during the election campaign that the Statehood shall be restored to Jammu & Kashmir immediately after the elections to the Assembly are over.
Speaking at a webinar by world Peace & Reconciliation Forum today in Delhi
Bhan said the same commitment is reflected in the stand and statement of the Union of India in the Supreme Court of India which forms part of the Judgement of the five judges Constitution Bench in Article 370 matter.
He said the judges relied on the submission of Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta who had told the Court that J&K’s Statehood would be restored in due time and this would not impact the Union Territory of Ladakh. Therefore, they left the question of determining the contours of Article 3 open to be determined in a different case where the question emerges.”
“The Court directed that J&K’s Statehood be restored as soon as possible.”
In conformity with the commitment in and out side the Parliament and in response to the directions of the Supreme Court the elected JK Government led by Omar Abdullah passed a resolution:
The restoration of Statehood will be a beginning of a healing process, reclaiming the Constitutional rights and protecting identity of people of Jammu and Kashmir,Bhan said .
The Cabinet has authorised the Chief Minister to take up the matter with the Prime Minister and Government of India for restoration of Statehood.
CM Omar Abdullah called on Prime Minister, the Home Minister, the Vice President and the President of India to press the people’s demand for restoration of Statehood.
Bhan said it becomes incumbent on the Union of India to order restoration of the Statehood to Jammu & Kashmir in the interest of the cohesion and integrity and regional aspirations.
Bhan urged the Union Government to fast track the decision for restoration of Statehood as the only political means to set right the turbulent affairs of Jammu & Kashmir.
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