Chidambaram Demands Modi Govt To Repeal 'Offending' Laws In J&K, Restore Statehood

Chidambaram said that Jammu and Kashmir should not be treated as a piece of real estate and that the rights of the people living there should be recognised and respected. 

P Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir by appealing the offending laws of the central government. 
 
Chidambaram, in a series of tweets, said that Jammu and Kashmir should not be treated as a piece of real estate and that the rights of the people living there should be recognised and respected. 

“Congress Party’s position that full Statehood must be restored to J&K should clear any doubt or ambiguity. What was made under the Constitution cannot be unmade by an Act of Parliament misinterpreting and misusing the provisions of the Constitution,” said the former minister, while also highlighting the fact that dismembering of Jammu and Kashmir has been challenged in the Supreme Court and the case has been pending for almost two years now. 
 
“In the monsoon session, Parliament should repeal the offending laws and restore the status quo ante in J&K. That is the only way to draw the starting line for a political resolution of the Kashmir issue. J&K was a ‘state’ that signed an Instrument of Accession and acceded to India. It must enjoy that status forever. J&K is not a piece of ‘real estate'. J&K is ‘people’. Their rights and wishes must be respected,” he added. 

His remarks come in light of the upcoming June 24 meeting which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to chair with political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir including four former chief ministers, so expected to be attended by union minister Ahmed Shah along with other central leaders. 
The meeting will be the first exercise which will include leaders from both the Centre and Kashmir ever since the abrogation of article 370, which revoked the special status of J&K. 
 
According to some officials who talked to Times Now said, the meeting is expected to be significant in terms of strengthening political processes for holding assembly elections in the union territory.