Raman Bhalla Demands Immediate Restoration of J&K Statehood: ‘People Deserve Equal Rights

As political discontent deepens in Jammu and Kashmir, Congress leader Raman Bhalla calls for the urgent return of statehood, warning that continued delay is eroding public trust and democratic values.

Raman Bhalla, Working President of the Congress unit in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), has issued a strong appeal for the immediate restoration of full statehood, stating that the region’s unique identity and democratic rights must be upheld. Speaking to media representatives in Jammu, he emphasized that only statehood can truly reflect and address the socio-economic, political, and cultural aspirations of the people.

Bhalla criticized the continued Union Territory (UT) status of Jammu and Kashmir, calling it a serious injustice that is causing growing feelings of alienation and disenfranchisement among residents. “The UT arrangement is a poor substitute for the self-governance that statehood ensures,” he said, adding that it has significantly undermined the region’s autonomy and democratic voice.

Highlighting the disparity in treatment, Bhalla stressed that the people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve the same rights and privileges enjoyed by citizens of other Indian states. “The downgrading of our historic state has not just robbed us of constitutional protections, it has weakened the very foundation of trust between the people and the democratic institutions,” he remarked.

Bhalla pointed out that the removal of statehood has dealt a heavy blow to the identity and rights of the region’s people. He said that democratic rights, once protected by constitutional provisions, are now in jeopardy. “This move has deeply shaken the faith of the public in India’s democratic framework,” he stated.

Reiterating his party’s stance, Bhalla affirmed that the Indian National Congress remains fully committed to fighting for the reinstatement of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. “We have consistently raised this demand, and we will not rest until it is fulfilled,” he said.

Bhalla also reminded the public that the BJP government had pledged on the floor of the Indian Parliament to restore statehood to J&K. “It is high time the BJP kept its word,” he urged. “Every day of delay is not just a denial of democratic rights—it is a betrayal of the people’s trust.”