Jammu and Kashmir will be given statehood “at an appropriate time”, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Parliament on Saturday, during a discussion on the J&K Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
“Many MPs said bringing the amendment means J&K won’t get statehood. I am piloting the bill and I have clarified the intentions. Nowhere is it written that Jammu and Kashmir won’t get statehood. How can you draw such a conclusion?” Shah asked the Opposition. “I have said earlier, and I repeat that this bill has nothing to do with the statehood of Jammu & Kashmir. Statehood will be given… at an appropriate time,” he said.
Shah said the Opposition sought answers from the Centre on promises made as J&K’s special status was withdrawn, but failed to provide any of their own.
“We are asked about promises made during abrogation of Article 370, and it’s been 17 months… what have you done for 70 years? If you worked properly… you need not have asked us,” Shah said. He referred to local body polls with over 51 per cent voter turnout in November 2020, to indicate that statehood would soon be restored.
The Centre, on August 5, 2019, had revoked special status given to J&K under Article 370 and split into two union territories. There was suspension of mobile internet and broadband services for over 18 months and the deployment of thousands of security personnel. The Internet curb was gradually restored after the Supreme Court called the curbs an assault on free speech and democratic rights.
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