Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated that his government would work hard to restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest.
Bengaluru: Just months after the abrogation of articles 35A and 370, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured that his government will work towards the restoration of statehood for the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest.
As reported by a popular website, PM Modi also stressed that there would be no demographic changes in the UT of J&K. This development comes in the wake of the PM meeting a delegation of political leaders of the newly floated party – J&K Apni Party.
The newly launched party is headed by Altaf Bukhari. He is a senior leader of the Mehbooba Mufti-led the People's Democratic Party (PDP).
The party has as members a number of former members of the Congress, the National Conference (NC) and PDP.
After meeting the PM, Bukhari said, "He is a man of commitment. His heart beats for the people of J&K."
On August 5, 2019, the Indian government, headed by PM Modi moved a resolution to abrogate the contentious articles 370 and 35A.
Both the houses of the Indian Parliament ratified the resolution, thereby integrating Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India.
Later, the state of Jammu and Kashmir was split into two union territories.
However, the opposition, in its efforts to spoil the reputation of the Modi government, has continuously opposed the abrogation.
As far as the BJP is concerned, it had made the abrogation a part of its poll manifesto.
While the top court continues to hear the case relating to abrogation, a 5-judge bench, headed by NV Ramana refused to refer it to a larger bench.
NGO People's Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association and an intervenor had sought referring the matter to a larger bench.
It might be recalled that the petitioners had sought reference to a larger bench on the ground that two judgments of the Supreme Court -- Prem Nath Kaul versus Jammu and Kashmir in 1959 and
Sampat Prakash versus Jammu and Kashmir in 1970 -- which dealt with the issue of Article 370 are in direct conflict each other and therefore the current bench of five judges could not hear the issue, as reported by India Today earlier.
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