Srinagar, June 28: J&K Awami National Conference Senior Vice President Muzzafar Shah has issued a strong and principled statement, asserting that statehood for Jammu & Kashmir is not a political concession to be negotiated, but a constitutional right categorically promised by the Union Home Minister on the floor of Parliament.
In a statement issued to the Kashmir Media Watch, Speaking at a critical juncture, Shah voiced deep concern over the J&K administration’s passive stance, calling it “a dangerous submission that not only weakens our rightful demand for the restoration of Article 370 but also diminishes the stature of elected representation.”
He cautioned against any abrupt move to dissolve the Assembly in the name of statehood restoration, stressing that such decisions must be rooted in constitutional norms and legal precedent.
“The dissolution of the Assembly is not a foregone conclusion. It is a matter open to constitutional debate,” Shah said, invoking the precedent of Himachal Pradesh, which attained statehood on January 25, 1971, without immediate dissolution of its Assembly.
“Instead, the Assembly was expanded through delimitation in 1971–72, and fresh elections were held only after that process,” he noted.
Shah made it clear that while the return of statehood is a crucial step, it is not the final destination.
“Winds of change are blowing, and true statehood may be on the horizon. But let us be clear—our struggle doesn’t end there. We will continue to fight for the restoration of Article 370, no matter the odds,” he affirmed.
