Srinagar, July 30 (KNS): More than 120 prominent individuals including former bureaucrats, diplomats, journalists, academicians, and civil society members have jointly called on Members of Parliament to press for the immediate and full restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The petition, dated July 27, highlights growing concern over the prolonged loss of statehood and the continued governance of Jammu and Kashmir as two Union Territories. The signatories argue that this arrangement undermines federal principles and has deepened the alienation among people in the region.
“We are writing to request you to seek the immediate and full restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir,” the letter to MPs states, copy of which lies with KNS. It emphasizes that the current Parliament session which has already discussed issues like the Pahalgam terrorist attack and Operation Sindoor offers a crucial opportunity to address political questions alongside security concerns.
Among the signatories are former Union Ministers, retired IAS and IPS officers, former ambassadors, legal experts, scholars from leading universities, and human rights defenders.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe petition notes that the Union Government has already expressed commitment to restoring statehood and urges MPs to help ensure that promise is fulfilled without delay.
“The restoration of statehood is important not just for peace-building in Jammu and Kashmir, but also for upholding the federal spirit of the Indian Constitution,” the signatories wrote.
They have also proposed a constitutional amendment to prevent any future instance of a state being downgraded to a Union Territory, calling the J&K case a dangerous precedent that threatens India’s democratic structure.
The appeal ends with a call for Parliamentarians to show solidarity with the people and political leadership of Jammu and Kashmir and to reject any move that weakens the federal foundation of the nation.
The petition has also been endorsed by three major civil society groups the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS), and the Forum for Human Rights in Jammu and Kashmir.(KNS)