Kashmir: In a significant political development, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, hinted on Thursday that the Union government might restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) before October this year. Speaking at a press conference in Srinagar, Athawale also suggested that legislative assembly elections could be scheduled around the same time, marking a critical step in J&K’s political landscape post the abrogation of Article 370.
“The elections in states like Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh are due before October. There is a strong possibility that statehood to Jammu and Kashmir could be restored before this period, with elections likely to follow,” Athawale stated, urging citizens to participate in record numbers during the forthcoming elections.
The Union Minister emphasized that the Centre has been committed to fulfilling its promise of reinstating the legislative assembly and statehood, as previously assured by the Home Minister during the abrogation of Article 370. The minister praised the high voter turnout in the Lok Sabha elections, viewing it as a positive indicator of the public’s engagement with the democratic process.
During his visit to Srinagar, Athawale also met with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to discuss the region’s progress since the historic changes in its political status. The Minister highlighted the booming tourism sector as a sign of growing peace and stability in the region. “Over 2.11 crore tourists, including foreigners, have visited Jammu and Kashmir. This surge reflects the enhanced security situation; people no longer fear visiting Kashmir as they did in the past when terrorism was a significant deterrent,” Athawale noted.
He added that while some isolated incidents of violence still occur, the overall atmosphere is one of peace, as assured by the Lieutenant Governor.
Athawale also reviewed various welfare schemes being implemented in the region. He disclosed that over 2 lakh pre and post-matric scholarships have been awarded to Scheduled Caste (SC) students, and more than 84,000 scholarships have been distributed to Other Backward Classes (OBC) students in J&K. He pointed out the demographic realities, noting that while SCs and OBCs each constitute about 8% of J&K’s population, there are no SC families residing in Kashmir Valley.
The Minister also mentioned the challenges faced by marginalized communities, revealing that 74 cases have been registered under the Atrocities Act against SCs and OBCs in J&K. “We are planning to establish one old age home in each district to better serve our senior citizens. Currently, 16 old age homes are operational in Jammu and Kashmir,” Athawale announced.
In a political move, Athawale confirmed that his party, the Republican Party of India (RPI), plans to contest in the upcoming J&K legislative assembly elections. “We are looking to field at least 10-15 candidates, contributing to the democratic process in the region,” he added.
This statement from a Union Minister marks a crucial development in the ongoing political discourse around J&K’s future, with potential ramifications for the region’s governance and its integration into the broader political framework of India.