Indian parliamentary panel urges quick restoration of statehood to IIOJK
New Delhi: An Indian Parliamentary panel has asked the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to expedite the process of granting statehood to Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, stressing that this was a promise made by the BJP-led government in 2019 during the reorganization of the territory.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the recommendation was made by the Rajya Sabha Committee on Government Assurances, which tabled its report in the Upper House during the just concluded Winter Session of the Indian parliament.
The report said the issue was discussed by the panel headed by M Thambiduarai, senior leader of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party and Member of Parliament, with representatives of the IIOJK administration and the Indian Home Ministry during a study visit to Srinagar on July 13 last year.
“…restoring statehood to [Indian illegally occupied] Jammu and Kashmir was a promise made by the union government at the time of the [territory’s] reorganisation in 2019. It is, therefore, incumbent upon all the concerned authorities to expedite the necessary procedures involved to fulfil that promise,” the report said.
The committee urged the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs to expedite the process to grant Statehood to IIOJK and honour the assurance at the earliest.
In response, the representative of the Indian Home Ministry informed the committee that the matter is being examined at the appropriate level and a decision in the matter will be taken at the earliest, it said.
