'J&K will be Given Statehood at an Appropriate Time,' says Amit Shah

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) will be given statehood "at an appropriate time". The Minister said this during a discussion at the Lok Sabha on the J&K Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 on February 13.

The J&K Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill seeks to merge the J&K cadre of all-India services officers with the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre.

Responding to the claims made by the opposition parties Shah said many MPs has questioned the amendment of the 2019 bill that separates the former state into two union territories after the abrogation of Article 370. Setting aside the claims, Shah informed the House that he had "clarified intentions" regarding the bill.

"Many MPs said bringing the amendment means J&K won't get statehood. I am piloting the bill, I brought it. I have clarified the intentions. Nowhere is it written that Jammu and Kashmir won't get statehood. Where are you drawing this conclusion from?" Shah asked of the opposition.

Shah further informed the House that the Bill has nothing to do with the statehood of Jammu & Kashmir and it will be given statehood "at an appropriate time".

Earlier on February 8, Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad on his last day in the House questioned the ruling party on the UT status of Jammu and Kashmir and stressed on the restoration of its statehood as it has halted the development in the region, has increased unemployment and have made survival difficult.

On July 2020, Jammu and Kashmir was declared a Union Territory along with Ladakh after the Parliament revoked the special status enjoyed by it under Article 370.

The UT of Jammu and Kashmir have a legislature like Puducherry with an elected legislative assembly and a chief minister. Ladakh, on the other hand, is a UT without legislature like Chandigarh.

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