Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir minister Satish Sharma on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce the restoration of statehood for the Union Territory in his Independence Day address at the Red Fort.
Sharma’s comments came after the Supreme Court on Thursday gave the Centre eight weeks to respond to a plea seeking the reinstatement of J-K’s statehood.
“The Prime Minister should make the announcement tomorrow itself, even if the actual outcome may come after eight weeks,” he said, adding that the Supreme Court should carefully consider all aspects and restore the dignity of J-K’s people.
In a related statement, the ruling National Conference (NC) expressed disappointment over the SC’s decision to give the Centre eight weeks.
“It is disheartening. The people of J-K were hoping for positive news, but today’s decision to wait for the Centre’s response for another eight weeks is disappointing,” said NC state spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar. He added, however, that the party remains hopeful that good news will emerge in the next hearing or shortly thereafter.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran noted submissions from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, that “several considerations go into the decision-making process.”
The plea, filed by academician Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and socio-political activist Ahmad Malik, has been listed for hearing after eight weeks.
“You cannot ignore what happened in Pahalgam… It is for Parliament and the executive to take a decision,” CJI Gavai remarked when senior lawyer Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing Bhat, requested an early hearing.
