‘First task of…’: P Chidambaram has this suggestion for new NC-Congress government of Jammu and Kashmir

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has said that the first task before the new government in Jammu and Kashmir should be to demand the restoration of statehood for the Union Territory. The former Union Finance Minister said INDIA bloc parties should support the demand.

In a post on X, Chidambaram suggested that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government at the Centre doesn't agree, then the ruling government in the erstwhile state should approach the court since the central government had promised restoration of statehood before the top court.

“After the election results in J-K and days before the new government will take office, the LG of J-K has taken powers to himself that mocks the verdict of the people,” Chidambaram said.

Chidambaram's suggestions come after the National Conference-Congress alliance won the recent Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections and is all set to form the government with Omar Abdullah likely as the chief minister.

The president's rule was withdrawn in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, paving the way for the formation of a new government in the union territory. The Union Home Ministry issued a gazette notification to this effect.

Jammu and Kashmir had been under Central rule since June 2018, following the resignation of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) withdrew its support from the PDP-led government.

"The first task of the new government should be to demand the restoration of statehood to J-K, and all the I.N.D.I.A. parties should support the demand, Chidambaram said in the post. “Failing a positive response, the new J-K government should not hesitate to approach the Supreme Court,” he wrote.

‘Parliament to take a call’

Last week, BJP leader Ram Madhav said that Parliament will take a final call on the timing and structure of granting statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

The Union government, from the Prime Minister and home minister down, has repeatedly said that statehood will be granted at an appropriate time. Madhav, who was the BJP in charge of Jammu and Kashmir in the recently concluded assembly elections,told HT in an interview.

(With PTI inputs)