The Union Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, on Tuesday, said that a decision on the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood is likely to be taken ‘soon’. Meghwal made the statement while talking to reporters at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. Describing the process as ‘very sensitive’, Meghwal said that the centre is committed to the process of granting statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Referring to the Home Minister’s statement in the Lok Sabha, Meghwal said that Shah has already provided assurance that the rightful process will be followed and people will be given ‘what is due to them.’
CM Omar Abdullah Expresses Cautious Optimism
Expressing cautious optimism, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir said, “Okay, a process is going on. We feel the process has already taken long. We had hoped to get statehood by now. We didn’t get it but we have not lost hope.”
“Sitting on the side, I was also listening to the mantri ji. Mantri ji said that perhaps we would get good news regarding the statehood,” he said. “We are waiting for that good news from the last one and a half years. We hope we will not have to wait longer now.”
What Will Change For Jammu-Kashmir If Statehood Is Granted
As per the constitution, India is a ‘union of states’ and as part of the federal structure, the power of the centre and state is clearly defined by the constitution. Once the valley receives statehood, all limitations on the power of the elected government will be revoked.
The power to control police forces and regulate public order will go back to the elected government of Jammu and Kashmir once the status is restored.
With the powers to control the police, law and order, transfer postings of bureaucrats and anti-corruption branches going back to the elected government, the extensive discretion and power given to the Governor as representative of the President will be removed.