Poonch, 30-12-2023: National Conference president, Farooq Abdullah, raised concerns on Saturday regarding the delay in reinstating statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and organizing Assembly elections in the region. He emphasized the populace’s desire for a swiftly elected government in the Union Territory.
While extending New Year greetings, the former chief minister expressed optimism about early elections in the erstwhile state. Abdullah urged the government to comprehend the expectations and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, calling for prompt action. He pointed out the prolonged gap since the last elections in 2014 and underscored the Election Commission’s directive to the central government to conduct elections by September of the following year.
“I hope Lieutenant Governor Manoj Singh personally looks into this. The Union Territory desires an elected government to ensure that the genuine concerns of the people are heard and addressed,” added the former CM.
Earlier, on December 11, the Supreme Court instructed the Election Commission to take necessary measures for conducting legislative assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30 of the next year. This directive came during a hearing on various pleas challenging the revocation of special constitutional privileges granted to the erstwhile state under Article 370 by the Centre.
In a significant ruling, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court upheld the Centre’s abrogation of Article 370, affirming it as a temporary provision within the President’s power to revoke. Numerous petitions were submitted to the court, including those from private individuals, lawyers, activists, politicians, and political parties, contesting the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. This act led to the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
On August 5, 2019, the Centre announced the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370, concurrently splitting the region into the two Union Territories mentioned earlier.
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