J&K: Unending wait for statehood

August 5, 2026; the seventh anniversary of the dilution of Article 370, leading to the divesting of Jammu and Kashmir of statehood and dividing it into two Union Territories (UTs). It was an unprecedented and unmatched act in the over 70-year history of the Indian Republic. And the solemn assurance of the Union Government and ruling BJP to restore statehood at an appropriate time, made on different fora, including Parliament and the Supreme Court of India, is still waiting to be fructified.

There could have been no better occasion/opportunity for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfil this solemn assurance than the day of the seventh anniversary. It would have better suited the grand-standing style of the current ruling dispensation, wherein dates and symbols play a great role. The solemn assurance, “Statehood would be restored to Jammu and Kashmir at an appropriate time”, is lurking in the air. Time and again, questions regarding the definition of “appropriate time”, asked on the floors of the two Houses of Parliament and outside, have been deflected by the powers that be by hiding under the cover of “security”. The ambiguity of “appropriate time-scale” has upped the index of dissatisfaction rather than satisfying curiosity, particularly among the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who are the direct beneficiaries/sufferers - depending on the prism used to view.

The solemnity of the assurance is getting diluted every day, with the Government not even ready to discuss it. There would have been no problem at all had this assurance not been given, with an intent to stick to the UT model. Then there would have been no need to restore and hold Assembly elections to provide a lame-duck democratic system two years back. The resultant dual power centre has created more confusion than solving any problem. On a more serious note, it has seriously damaged the sanctity of an elected government, with the power centres pulling in different directions and causing serious harm to the public cause, particularly on the development scale. The dictum of “statehood at an appropriate time” would have gained some credibility had there been a continuity effect rather than reiteration of the same nature time and again, which has convinced none barring the ruling dispensation circles and their staunch supporters. One dimension of continuity would have been through bringing transparency in the actions of the Union Government relating to Jammu and Kashmir, with proper explanation, barring those related to security, to the people of the country.

On the face of it, there is a marked improvement in the security situation in the UT. Since the Centre’s basic premise behind the August 5, 2019, Constitutional changes in J&K was the then-prevailing “grave” security situation, if this goal has been achieved to a satisfactory level, the rethink on the statehood issue on the seventh anniversary would have been a fitting tribute to the Narendra Modi government’s own benefit.

Occasional violence, including two incidents of targeted killings of innocent citizens and police personnel on the eve of the seventh anniversary of the dilution of Article 370, raises serious questions. It also raises doubts about the timing and intent of the perpetrators and the Government’s narrative of total normalcy. Five years back, the Government committed before Parliament to restoring statehood without a definite time-frame, and repeated the assurance before the Supreme Court three years later. Meanwhile, with restoration of statehood remaining a mere charade, delimitation of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies has been allowed to proceed in an arbitrary manner, seemingly to achieve a particular political goal.

This has not benefitted anyone, including fulfilling the dream of the BJP of either forming a government in the UT on its own or winning a Lok Sabha seat in Kashmir Valley. But it has certainly harmed the cause of Jammu and Kashmir in its entirety a great deal. The fact of the matter is that right from August 5, 2019, the Article 370 issues were planned with a politico-electoral design. The prime motive seemed to be to pave the poll route for future battles of the ballot and not per se the betterment of J&K and its people. The net result is a terrible shortfall on economic and development scales, leaving aside political empowerment.

Flourishing tourism cannot be the only barometer to measure normalcy post August 5, 2019. It has many other dimensions which are deliberately being ignored. The prime factor should be the people’s (of J&K) comfort and satisfaction, which has got a thorough beating. Although August 5, 2026, has gone by, there still exists a window of opportunity for the Union Government, provided by the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. In addition to dealing with issues related to examination paper leaks and the Gen Z protests, and the resultant police action in Delhi, an initiative should come from the topmost level in the government. They should take the Opposition into confidence to pave the way for initiating the process in Parliament for restoration of statehood. No harm if a special session of Parliament is convened for this purpose, which will also give the Narendra Modi government a new high.

Such a move will certainly not come in the category of “scaling down”, as is being made out in the case of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. In fact, the Government will fulfil its own solemn commitment by doing so. The Union Government should not hesitate to act on this front, judging by the absence of any enthusiasm among people in both Jammu and Kashmir regions on the seventh anniversary day. Barring reactions of political parties on their stated lines, there was no public euphoria, which is also an indicator of disenchantment over unfulfilled promises related to economic upliftment, regional discrimination — particularly in relation to BJP’s stronghold Jammu region - political empowerment through protection of land and job rights (on the lines of Himachal Pradesh and some other states).

The seventh anniversary also entails upon the powers that be to start serious introspection, without sitting on false prestige, regarding the real gains of the process initiated on August 5, 2019. No doubt, security and peace should be the top priority of the Government, but other issues related to regional discrimination, political empowerment and protection of basic rights cannot be overlooked and delayed any further. And even more important is to keep in mind the sentiments and feelings of people of Jammu and Kashmir. In the last seven years, this section has been totally bypassed. “How soon is soon?” The Government must reply to this question by former Home Minister P Chidambaram on the delay in restoring J-K statehood.

The writer is a political analyst; Views presented are personal.