As elections approach in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the Congress Party has made a significant promise to restore “full statehood” to the region if it wins the upcoming Assembly polls. This pledge comes as the first regional assembly elections in IIOJK in a decade are set to begin, with around 8.7 million eligible voters participating.
The elections, held in three phases, will be the first since the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), revoked Article 370 in 2019. This move stripped the region of its special semi-autonomous status and imposed direct rule from New Delhi. Modi’s decision has been controversial, as it revoked the constitutional privileges of the Muslim-majority region, sparking widespread discontent.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera criticised the BJP government for these actions, accusing Modi of stripping away IIOJK’s rights. Khera assured that if Congress, which is contesting the elections in alliance with the National Conference (NC), is elected, it would restore the rights of the territory and reinstate its statehood.
In contrast, BJP’s Union Minister Amit Shah firmly stated that Article 370 is now part of history, dismissing the possibility of its restoration. The Modi government’s move to scrap the special provisions of Article 370 is widely seen as an effort to change the region’s demographics by facilitating the settlement of non-Kashmiris, particularly Hindus, in the area.
The elections and Congress’s pledge are taking place against the backdrop of decades of unrest in the region, with ongoing military presence and restrictions.
To Keep Updated Visit & Follow our Facebook Page Or Our Website
