New Delhi, Aug 4:
On the eve of the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, top security officials met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the Parliament House complex to discuss the national security situation, sources said.
The meeting was attended by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, and Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Deka. While the details remain undisclosed, the discussions are believed to have focused on the prevailing internal security landscape.
The anniversary of the August 5, 2019 decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcate it into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh—comes amid renewed calls for the restoration of statehood.
Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Shah have previously stated that statehood would be restored when the situation normalizes, though no timeline has been provided.
In a recent interview to PTI on July 20, National Conference leader and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reiterated his demand for immediate restoration of statehood, calling it a fundamental right. He also hinted that legal and constitutional measures were being explored.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had earlier written to the Prime Minister, urging the government to introduce legislation during the Monsoon Session to restore full statehood. On Monday, CPI leader D. Raja echoed this demand in a separate letter to PM Modi.
Meanwhile, in Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is scheduled to distribute appointment letters for government jobs to the next of kin of terror victims at a function at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre on Tuesday.
