‘Constitutional Misdemeanour’: Sibal Demands J&K Statehood After Omar Abdullah Takes Office
Restoring Statehood in J&K Is a Constitutional Right, Asserts Kapil Sibal Amid Omar Abdullah’s Swearing-In
NEW DELHI, Oct 17: Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Kapil Sibal has sharply criticized the decision to reduce Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to a Union Territory, calling it a “constitutional misdemeanour.” He emphasized that the region’s statehood must be restored to uphold the constitutional rights of its people. His statement comes on the heels of National Conference leader Omar Abdullah’s swearing-in as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, marking the installation of the first elected government in the Union Territory since the abrogation of Article 370 and the revocation of its special status in 2019.
Sibal’s remarks, delivered through a post on the social media platform X, underscore the political and constitutional debate surrounding the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir. “It was a constitutional misdemeanour to have reduced the state of J&K to a Union Territory. It was wrong for the Supreme Court not to have decided that issue,” Sibal stated. His assertion reflects the ongoing legal and political discourse about the legitimacy of the decision made in 2019 and the need for judicial intervention to rectify what he views as an unconstitutional act.
The restoration of statehood, according to Sibal, is not merely a political issue but a constitutional imperative. “Time to restore statehood. This is the constitutional right of the people of J&K,” he insisted, highlighting the importance of granting J&K its political and administrative autonomy within the framework of India’s federal system. As a former Union Minister and senior advocate, Sibal’s intervention is significant, adding weight to the demand for statehood restoration, a sentiment echoed by various political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir.
The swearing-in ceremony of Omar Abdullah, who was accompanied by five other ministers—three from the Jammu region and two from the Kashmir Valley—was administered by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre on the picturesque banks of Dal Lake. The event marks a new chapter in the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir as it navigates its status as a Union Territory.
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