Iti s intriguing that centre-led by PM Narendra Modi has been adopting a dilly-dallying policy on the issue of the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir despite assurances given by almost all the ministers including the Prime Minister, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
It is pertinent to mention that on August 5, 2019, the Modi government revoked Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and also bifurcated the erstwhile State into Union Territories viz. J&K, and Ladakh. While the move was justified by the government as a step towards greater integration and development, the promise to restore statehood to J&K has been delayed, leading to uncertainty and undue apprehensions in the region.
Now when the UT has an elected government in place, the absence of statehood has been marring the people as there is confusion on many issues confronting the people of the region with the local dispensation facing difficulties in addressing the same on account of having ‘powerless’ power because being a UT, many powers have been exclusively vested for LG Manoj Sinha, making the UT government redundant or namesake only.
It is appalling that since the revocation of Article 370, the central government has maintained that statehood will be restored to J&K at an appropriate time, but the mention of the timeline was never seen in any of the promises made over the issue making it more or less ambiguous. The delay and uncertainty over the matter has been brewing frustration among the political leadership and the people of J&K, who feel that under the present set-up their democratic rights are under siege with bureaucracy undermining the role of elected government representatives which in the worst case can contribute to large scale distrust and alienation among the people.
Although, delay in restoring statehood has been seen by many as central government’s strategy to have control over the region, which might prove detrimental as those opposing it may feel that the region is prevailing under half-democracy, a situation that could be exploited by the enemies of the nation as was the case in the past, when the region became strife-ridden.
It is the right time that the Centre should come clear on the issue as the uncertainty on statehood restoration can make things worse again in J&K.
