NEW DELHI, Oct 19: In an indication that the Centre might be inclined to take the necessary step, the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has cleared a resolution passed by the cabinet headed by the chief minister Omar Abdullah urging the Centre to restore the Statehood to the Union Territory, officials said on Saturday.
The Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship Mr Abdullah on Thursday had passed a unanimous resolution for restoration of Statehood in its original form, the government spokesman said. The restoration of Statehood will be a beginning of a healing process, reclaiming the constitutional rights and protecting identity of people of Jammu and Kashmir, the official statement read.
The Cabinet has authorised the Chief Minister to take up the matter with the Prime Minister and Government of India for restoration of statehood. Protection of Jammu and Kashmir’s unique identity and constitutional rights of people remains the cornerstone of the newly elected government’s policy.
The spokesperson said the Chief Minister would be proceeding to New Delhi in coming days to meet the Prime Minister and Union Ministers in this regard. The Cabinet also decided summoning of the Legislative Assembly at Srinagar on November 4, 2024 and advised Lieutenant-Governor to summon and address the Legislative Assembly.
The draft address of the Lieutenant-Governor to the Legislative Assembly at the commencement of the first session was also placed before the Council of Ministers, which the Council decided shall be further considered and discussed, the spokesman added.
The Council also made recommendation to the L-G for appointment of Mubarik Gul as Pro-tem Speaker who will administer oath to the elected members of the Legislative Assembly on October 21. Mr Sinha subsequently issued the necessary order appointing Mr Gul as the Pro-tem speaker.
(Manas Dasgupta)