Reasi, July 24 (KNS): Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday said that the restoration of statehood is crucial for the development and progress of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to KNS, Azad said that statehood is not the concern of any particular religion, region, or political group. “Statehood is not a matter of Hindu, Muslim, Kashmiri, or non-Kashmiri—it belongs to every party, every religion, every region. For real development, it is essential,” he said during his visit to Reasi.

He also recalled how people in Reasi remembered his decision to grant it district status during his tenure as Chief Minister, saying such gestures are not forgotten by the public.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

Former CM urged the public and media to avoid spreading rumours and instead focus on meaningful and constructive issues. “There are too many rumours being circulated. I request the public and the media to zero them out and focus on matters like employment and development,” he said.

He further said that Article 370 and the demand for statehood are separate issues. He had earlier spoken about Article 370 in Parliament and maintained that any change regarding it could only come through the Supreme Court or the central government. “It has been four years since I said that, and both routes have now been taken,” he added.(KNS)