Statehood demand beyond religion, region, party: Azad

Jammu, Jul 24: Former J&K chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday said that the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood is a concern shared across communities and the parties.
Addressing the media, Azad urged people not to pay attention to rumours and focus instead on the key issues. “I would like to request the people of India to ignore the rumours. We need to focus on statehood and development. Unemployment remains a challenge and we must find a solution for it,” he said.
Azad said that the issue of statehood should not be viewed through the lens of religion or regional identity. “Statehood is not a Hindu, Muslim, Kashmiri or non-Kashmiri issue. It is a matter for every party and every region. Be it the BJP in Jammu, the National Conference in Kashmir, Congress or PDP, statehood is equally important for all,” he said.
He added that the demand for statehood also includes people from all communities including Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians. “Statehood matters for all of them,” he said.
Recalling his tenure as Minister of State for Home Affairs, Azad said he had earlier recommended that three Union Territories be granted statehood, which was accepted at the time. “But for the first time in 50 years of politics, I saw my own state becoming a Union Territory,” he said.
He called this a political accident and said the government had earlier accepted in Parliament that statehood would be restored. “I thank the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. I have full faith that they will restore statehood. The sooner they do it, the better it be,” he said.
Azad also said that statehood and the post of Chief Minister are separate issues. “My focus is on statehood. I have spoken about it several times in Parliament,” he said.
He dismissed speculations around the next Vice President, following the exit of Jagdeep Dhankhar, and declined to comment on names being floated in public discussions. (KNO)