Statehood of Jammu & Kashmir will be granted after normalcy is restored: Centre

Jammu and Kashmir will be granted full statehood at an ‘appropriate time’ after normalcy is restored in the union territory, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Rai while responding to Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi’s question whether the Centre has any proposal to reinstate the statehood in J&K said, “Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir would be granted at an appropriate time after normalcy is restored in Jammu and Kashmir.”

In his further reply, the union minister said in view of the constitutional changes and bifurcation of the erstwhile state of the Jammu and Kashmir into UT of J&K and Ladakh, in the national interest, including the interest of the security of UT temporary restrictions on various communication channels like internet and mobile services were resorted.

“Subsequently, the matter was reviewed from time to time and restrictions imposed were gradually eased out in a phased manner and 4G internet data services were restored in the entire Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir with effect from February 5, 2021,” said Rai in his written reply on the matter.

When compared to 2019, the number of terrorist incidents has reduced by 59 percent in 2020 and upto 32 percent by June 2021 in comparison with the corresponding period up to June 2020, he said.

Rai futher added that shops and business establishments, Government offices, public transport, educational and health institutions, etc. are functioning normally in the UT of J&K

On 5 August 2019, the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir was stripped after the removal of Articles 370 and 35A. The state was futher bifurcated into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir with Assembly and Ladakh without one.

Adopting a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism, the Central government has taken measures such as strengthening of security apparatus, intensifying cordon and search operations in order to effectively deal with the challenges posed by the terrorist organisations.

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