Rahul Gandhi and Kharge Write to PM Modi, Demand Restoration of Statehood to Jammu & Kashmir

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge have jointly written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the government to introduce legislation in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. They also called for the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to protect the rights of its tribal communities.

In their letter, the two senior leaders underlined the unprecedented nature of Jammu and Kashmir’s downgrade from a full-fledged state to a Union Territory following its bifurcation in 2019. They emphasized that such a move has no parallel in the history of independent India.

A Constitutional and Democratic Demand

“The people of Jammu and Kashmir have consistently called for the restoration of full statehood over the last five years,” the letter reads. “This demand is both legitimate and firmly grounded in their constitutional and democratic rights.”

Highlighting previous instances where Union Territories were granted statehood—such as Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram—the leaders noted that the Jammu and Kashmir case is unique, as it involves a demotion rather than an upgrade.

PM Modi’s Prior Commitments Quoted

Rahul Gandhi and Kharge cited multiple statements made by PM Modi in support of restoring statehood:

• May 19, 2024 (Bhubaneswar): "The restoration of statehood is a solemn promise we have made and we stand by it."

• September 19, 2024 (Srinagar): "We have said in Parliament that we will restore the region’s statehood."

They also reminded the Prime Minister that the Union Government assured the Supreme Court during the Article 370 hearings that statehood would be restored “at the earliest and as soon as possible.”

Call to Action in Parliament

Reinforcing the urgency of the matter, the letter concluded:

“We urge the Government to bring forward legislation in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament to grant full statehood to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Additionally, we request that Ladakh be brought under the Sixth Schedule.”

The appeal comes amid rising political demand for democratic restoration in the region and is expected to spark significant debate in the upcoming session of Parliament.