National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has called for the swift restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and the early conduct of Assembly elections in the Union Territory. Abdullah emphasized that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are eager to have an elected government at the earliest.
In a statement to ANI on Saturday, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister extended New Year greetings to the people and expressed his hope for early elections in the region. He stated, “I hope that the government will understand the expectations and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and hold the elections as soon as possible.”
Abdullah highlighted the prolonged gap since the last elections in 2014 and the eagerness of the people to participate in the democratic process again. He pointed out that the Election Commission had directed the central government to conduct the elections by September next year.
“I hope Lieutenant Governor Manoj Singh personally looks into this. The Union Territory wants an elected government so that the genuine concerns of the people could be heard and addressed,” added Abdullah.
The Supreme Court had earlier, on December 11, directed the Election Commission to take necessary steps for holding elections to the legislative assembly of Jammu and Kashmir by September 30 next year. This directive came during a hearing on pleas challenging the revocation of special constitutional privileges to the erstwhile state under Article 370 by the Centre.
In August 2019, the Centre announced the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir granted under Article 370 and bifurcated the region into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The Supreme Court, in a landmark ruling, upheld the Centre’s abrogation of Article 370, stating it was a temporary provision and the President had the power to revoke it.