Setting the stage for the first round of showdown between the newly elected government in Jammu and Kashmir and the Union government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has approved the resolution passed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led Cabinet urging the Centre to restore the statehood to the Union territory.

The Central leaders including PM Modi and the Union Home Minister Amit Shah had repeatedly announced and reiterated the commitment made on the floor of the Parliament that the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir would be restored at an appropriate time.

According to the spokesperson of the Department of Information and Public Relations, J and K the Cabinet has authorised the Chief Minister to take up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India for restoration of statehood. He said the CM will go to New Delhi in the coming days to meet the Prime Minister and Union Ministers in this regard.

Meanwhile, the cabinet headed by Omar Abdullah has also decided to summon the Legislative Assembly at Srinagar on November 4 and advised the LG to summon and address the assembly, the spokesperson of the Department of Information and Public Relations said in a written statement released on Saturday.

The draft address of the Lt Gov 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, he said.

“The Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Omar Abdullah earlier on Thursday passed a unanimous resolution for restoration of statehood in its original form,” an official spokesperson said.

The spokesperson further added that the restoration of statehood will be the beginning of a healing process, reclaiming the constitutional rights and protecting the identity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

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.

However, the Omar Abdullah-led government faced criticism as Kashmir-based political parties described the resolution only on statehood and not on Article 370 as an “utter surrender” and a departure from the stand of the ruling National Conference.

Various political parties, including the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), People’s Conference (PC) and Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), denounced the move, reminding the NC of its poll promise to “strive to restore (Articles) 370-35A and statehood as prior to August 5, 2019”, and saying it was a departure from the pre-election stand.