Congress Pushes for Jammu & Kashmir Statehood Restoration: Rahul Gandhi, Kharge Write to PM Modi
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have written to PM Modi demanding the immediate restoration of full statehood to Jammu & Kashmir.
NewsSutra
In a major political development with national implications, Congress party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have written a joint letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the immediate restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The move, coming just months before the 2026 Lok Sabha elections, has intensified the national discourse on democratic representation, federalism, and constitutional integrity in one of India’s most sensitive and strategically significant regions.
This renewed push follows a series of public statements by opposition parties, civil society voices, and legal experts who have questioned the constitutional validity and long-term democratic ramifications of the bifurcation and downgrading of the erstwhile state into Union Territories in August 2019.
The Letter: A Direct Plea to the Centre
According to senior Congress leaders, the letter—sent on July 15—was signed jointly by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, marking a rare but deliberate show of unity in the party’s highest ranks.
In the letter, excerpts of which have been shared with national media, the leaders stated:
“The continued denial of full statehood to Jammu & Kashmir is without precedent in India’s democratic history. It is a direct assault on the idea of cooperative federalism and the spirit of the Constitution.”
They further emphasized that the Article 370 abrogation and the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh—was executed unilaterally, without the consent of the people or their elected representatives.
The Congress leadership has also requested a time-bound roadmap for Assembly elections, currently pending despite multiple announcements by the Election Commission and the Home Ministry since 2022.
A Timeline of J&K’s Political Reconfiguration
To fully grasp the significance of the Congress’s demand, it is crucial to revisit the key developments since 2019:
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August 5, 2019: The Government of India abrogated Article 370, revoking the special status of Jammu & Kashmir.
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The same day, the state was bifurcated into two Union Territories, stripping J&K of its statehood and legislative autonomy.
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Over the next four years, the region witnessed security lockdowns, internet shutdowns, and political detentions, including those of three former Chief Ministers.
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Despite a Supreme Court ruling in 2023 that upheld the abrogation, the apex court also directed the Centre to conduct elections in J&K by September 2024.
However, with July 2025 already underway, the timeline remains ambiguous, and no official election schedule has been announced yet.
The Political Implications: Strategy or Substance?
The Congress’s letter is not just an administrative plea—it is a carefully timed political maneuver aimed at reclaiming relevance in a region where the party has lost significant ground to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and regional parties like the National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking at a press briefing in Delhi, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said:
“Jammu & Kashmir has been without an elected government for more than six years. If democracy can flourish in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, why not in Srinagar and Anantnag?”
Political analysts say the Congress is seeking to position itself as the defender of federal principles and democratic justice in the face of what it describes as an increasingly centralized and majoritarian style of governance under the BJP.
BJP’s Response: A Firm Rebuttal
In response, BJP leaders have accused the Congress of “opportunism” and “hypocrisy”, noting that the party had itself imposed President’s Rule multiple times in the past in Jammu and Kashmir.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, who hails from Udhampur, stated:
“The Congress cannot claim moral high ground. It was their failure to address terrorism, separatism, and corruption in Kashmir that led to the situation we had to fix. The abrogation of Article 370 was a national corrective action.”
He added that the development indices in J&K—such as road connectivity, medical infrastructure, and digital literacy—have improved substantially since 2019, a claim backed by recent reports from NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Rural Development.
The Ground Reality: A Region in Waiting
Despite government assertions of peace and progress, Jammu and Kashmir continues to grapple with issues of political alienation, youth unemployment, and institutional uncertainty.
In a recent survey by CSDS-Lokniti, over 62% of respondents in Jammu and 74% in Kashmir Valley said they preferred a return to full statehood. Many also expressed frustration over bureaucratic centralization and lack of local representation.
Prominent civil society activist Zafar Iqbal remarked:
“Statehood is not merely a political label—it is about local accountability, cultural dignity, and participatory governance. Union Territories are designed for small geographies like Chandigarh or Lakshadweep, not a region with 1.25 crore people and a unique historical context.”
Legal Voices Add Pressure
Constitutional law experts, including former Supreme Court judge Justice Lokur, have raised concerns about the “prolonged subjugation” of a region to Union control without elected representatives.
Justice Lokur noted in a recent webinar hosted by The Hindu Centre for Politics and Public Policy:
“India’s Constitution envisions temporary central control in times of emergency or breakdown of machinery—not permanent governance through bureaucrats. The Centre’s continued delay violates the spirit of Article 356 and 239.”
Regional Political Reactions: Unanimity Across the Board
Interestingly, the Congress’s demand has found resonance across party lines in J&K.
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Omar Abdullah (National Conference) tweeted: “Full statehood is the people’s right. Not a privilege.”
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Mehbooba Mufti (PDP) said: “We welcome the Congress’s stand. It is time for all parties to put pressure on the Centre to fulfill its democratic obligations.”
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Even Apni Party and People’s Conference, often seen as leaning closer to the BJP in recent years, have called for clarity on the timeline for elections and restoration of statehood.
National Ramifications: The Federalism Debate Rekindled
The Congress’s letter comes at a time when the debate over Centre-State relations is heating up across India. From Tamil Nadu’s resistance to NEET to Punjab’s opposition to the Governor’s overreach, and now J&K’s stalled autonomy, a wider narrative is emerging around the erosion of federal values.
Senior journalist and political commentator Rajdeep Sardesai noted:
“The demand for J&K statehood isn’t just about one region. It reflects a growing disquiet across multiple states about the Centre’s expanding footprint in matters traditionally handled by elected state governments.”
What Lies Ahead?
With Parliament’s Monsoon Session set to begin later this month, insiders suggest that Congress may raise the J&K statehood issue during the debates, potentially forcing a discussion or even a resolution.
Meanwhile, legal observers are watching the Supreme Court’s oversight of its 2023 directive for elections in J&K. If the timeline continues to slip, public interest litigations or contempt motions may be filed in the coming weeks.
Conclusion: A Democratic Test for the Nation
The Congress’s renewed push for restoring full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is not just a political move—it is a constitutional moment. At stake is the fundamental question of how India balances national security concerns with democratic rights, regional autonomy with federal unity.
Whether the Centre heeds this demand or chooses to delay further, the issue is now squarely in the public arena—and it may well shape the contours of India’s next general election.
