Srinagar, Oct 11: Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale on Sunday said the Centre could take a decision on restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir in the coming days, reiterating the assurance given by the government following the abrogation of Article 370.
Speaking at a press conference in Srinagar, Athawale said Union Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier assured that statehood would be restored to Jammu and Kashmir.
“Our government is definitely going to think about it,” he said, adding that he could not specify when the decision would be taken.
Athawale said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah would decide the timing, while maintaining that the government had promised to restore statehood when the time was appropriate.
Highlighting development initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir, the minister referred to road infrastructure, national highways, tunnels and railway connectivity, saying the Centre was working to support the region’s development.
On the security situation, Athawale said violence had declined since the abrogation of Article 370, while alleging that Pakistan continued to promote instability. He referred to the Pahalgam terror attack last year, which killed 26 people, including a local resident.
Athawale said India did not want conflict with Pakistan and urged Islamabad to stop supporting terrorist activities and pursue peaceful relations.
He also referred to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, claiming that people there were dissatisfied with Pakistan’s administration and urging the country to focus on economic development and public welfare.
