Home Minister Reiterates, Restoration of Jammu Kashmir’s Statehood at an ‘Appropriate Time’

SRINAGAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that Jammu Kashmir’s statehood will be restored “at an appropriate time” and assured a “good resolution” of the issues raised by people of Ladakh.

Speaking at a media conclave in Patna, Shah claimed that the region has witnessed a “U-turn” since the abrogation of Article 370, with no local recruitment into terrorist ranks in the last nine months. His remarks come amid renewed political calls from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for the early restoration of statehood and rising protests in Ladakh.

According to reports carried by several national media outlets, Shah said that Jammu Kashmir has moved away from separatism and integrated more closely with the rest of India. “Earlier, Pakistan felt no need to send terrorists from across the border. They used to place arms in the hands of our children. Now the situation has changed. The people of Jammu Kashmir feel they belong to the entire country and the entire country belongs to them,” he said.

The Home Minister asserted that democracy has been “fully restored” in the Union Territory. “Panchayat and municipal polls have taken place, and so have elections for the legislative Assembly. Rajya Sabha elections will also take place at some time,” he said, referring to the upcoming process of completing Jammu Kashmir’s political transition after the revocation of its special status in 2019.

Responding to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s statement that a “gulf” remains between Srinagar and New Delhi due to the delay in restoring statehood, Shah said, “He may be saying this out of political compulsions. But statehood would be restored at an appropriate time. And it will be done following discussions with him.”

On the ongoing agitation in Ladakh, Shah confirmed that the Union government is holding talks with the representatives of both Leh and Kargil. “We urge the people to have patience. There will be a good resolution of all their just demands,” he said, alluding to the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance, which have jointly demanded constitutional safeguards, job reservations, and full statehood for Ladakh.

The Home Minister also addressed questions about the arrest of educator and activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is currently in jail following protests in Leh that resulted in the torching of the BJP office and damage to government property. “I can speak of the demands of the people, not about any individual,” Shah said. “As far as his case is concerned, the matter is before the court, which will take a decision based on evidence at hand.”

The statement follows the Ladakh administration’s recent announcement of a judicial inquiry into the violence in Leh, a move officials said was intended to address public concerns and pave the way for dialogue with the region’s leadership.

Political observers note that Shah’s remarks signal a calibrated shift in the Centre’s approach, with a renewed focus on political dialogue in both Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh. However, leaders in Srinagar, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, maintain that restoring statehood remains the key to bridging the trust deficit and strengthening democratic governance in the region.