Centre committed to restore J&K’s statehood: Amit Shah

Srinagar, Mar 29: Without giving any timeframe, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reiterated that the Centre is committed to restore J&K’s statehood.
Speaking at the Times Now Summit 2025, Shah said that the Centre has always maintained that the statehood will be restored, “but it can’t be disclosed when it will be given at a public forum,” he added.
Referring to the assembly polls held in Jammu and Kashmir last year, the Union Home Minister said that it was the first election in Kashmir after 40 years in which there was no re-polling in any place. Not a single tear gas or bullet was fired. “Sixty per cent people exercised their franchise, this is a huge change,” he added.
The Union Home Minister reaffirmed that all BJP-ruled states will introduce the Uniform Civil Code one-by-one as it is one of the key agendas of the BJP since it was formed.
“It will come. It was the decision of the Constituent Assembly (to introduce UCC). The Congress might have forgotten it but we have not. We said we would abrogate Article 370. We have done that. We said we would construct a Ram temple at Ayodhya. We have done that too. Now UCC remains. We will do that too,” Shah said.
On the alleged discovery of a huge amount of cash at the Delhi residence of High Court judge Yashwant Varma, Shah said the Chief Justice of India has taken cognizance of the issue and ordered an inquiry (through a committee of three high court judges).
Shah said, “When no FIR can be registered, how can a seizure be carried out? The FIR can only be registered with the Chief Justice of India’s permission.”
The Union Home Minister Amit Shah exuded confidence that the BJP will remain in power at the Centre for at least 30 years. “When I was the national president of the BJP, I had said the BJP will remain in power for the next 30 years. Only 10 years have gone now,” he said.
Asked whether the RSS interferes in the functioning of the government, Shah said, “The RSS has been preparing patriots for the last 100 years. I have learnt from the RSS how to keep patriotism at centre while keeping many dimensions together. There is no question of interference,” he said.
Asked about the prevailing security situation, Shah said as the Union Home Minister he got three problems as legacy issues: Naxal violence, terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and insurgency in the Northeast. “In last 10 years, 16,000 youths have surrendered in these three theatres. As the Home Minister of the country, it is my duty to bring peace in all these places. It is the priority of the Prime Minister and naturally it is my priority too,” he added. (KNO)