Mubashir Alam Wani
Jammu, Mar 4: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra on Tuesday said that for the Congress party, the concept of special status for Jammu and Kashmir, post the Supreme Court verdict, translates to full statehood.
Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly in Jammu, Karra, said, “For Congress, after the Supreme Court’s verdict, if there is any possibility of special status, it is statehood. That remains our primary demand, and we will continue to stand by it.”
The JKPCC chief called for clarity on the demand for special status, saying that different political parties interpret the term differently. “Clarity is needed on what special status we are seeking. Different parties have different interpretations, but for Congress, post the Supreme Court verdict, it is statehood,” he said.
When asked whether Congress would push for Article 371, Karra avoided referencing specific provisions but called for securing constitutional safeguards. “It is not about numbers. What matters is ensuring protection for land, jobs and natural resources,” he said.
The J&K Congress chief also criticised the government for failing to provide a clear timeline for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, saying that the Vision Document lacks specifics on the matter.
He said that while the government has mentioned statehood, the process and timeframe remain vague. “There is no clarity on when or how statehood will be restored. This is a crucial issue that needs immediate attention,” he asserted.
Responding to People’s Democratic Party’s criticism that the document offers nothing significant to revive businesses, Karra distanced the Congress from PDP’s stance. “That is their issue. We have our own priorities,” he said.
