SRINAGAR, MAR 04: Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen, chairman of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) and former minister on Tuesday reiterated his call for the swift restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. He emphasized that further engagements with stakeholders are unnecessary, as the populace seeks immediate action.
In a statement issued to media, Yaseen highlighted that the decisive mandate given in the 2024 Assembly elections to a particular political party was explicitly for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional guarantees, particularly the return of its statehood. He urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah to establish a clear timeframe for this restoration, cautioning that any delay could be perceived as an attempt to prolong the current proxy administration.
Yaseen underscored that Jammu and Kashmir was a thriving state until 2019 but was unjustly downgraded and divided against the will of its people. He asserted that the public’s desire for statehood was evident in the assembly elections, where a particular party received a decisive mandate based on its commitment to restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional position.
He appealed to the central leadership to respect the 2024 mandate and take immediate steps to reinstate statehood, rather than engaging in prolonged discussions with so-called stakeholders to delay the process.
The PDF president further noted that the Supreme Court, while directing the Centre to conduct assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, had categorically supported the restoration of statehood, leaving no justification for further delays. He reminded the Centre of its repeated commitments, made by both the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, regarding the return of statehood.
Yaseen also warned that any unnecessary delay in the process would be perceived as a calculated move to continue the Centre’s direct rule in Jammu and Kashmir for political considerations.
This call aligns with Yaseen’s consistent stance on the issue. In previous statements, he has emphasized the importance of restoring statehood before conducting assembly elections and has urged political parties to unite in this cause.
