Karan Singh Advocates for Full Statehood Restoration to Jammu and Kashmir

Singh, who once served as Sadr-e-Riyasat of the region, unequivocally demanded, “Proper statehood: no ifs and buts.”

Veteran Congress leader Karan Singh has called for the reinstatement of full statehood to Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), describing its reduction to a Union Territory as “totally unacceptable.” In an interview, Singh, who once served as Sadr-e-Riyasat of the region, unequivocally demanded, “Proper statehood. No ifs and buts.”

Singh emphasized the necessity of restoring statehood alongside bolstering domiciliary laws to protect local land ownership and prevent sales to outsiders. Highlighting the incongruity of the current situation, he criticized the Indian government’s approach, stating that while it hails IIOJK as the “Crown of India,” the territory now ranks administratively below states like Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. “This is something that must be remedied,” he asserted.

The Congress leader further reflected on the region’s political transformation following the controversial abrogation of Article 370. This constitutional change stripped the territory of its special status, altering its political, economic, and social dynamics.

Karan Singh’s remarks highlight growing calls for reconsidering policies affecting IIOJK, underscoring the ongoing debates about the region’s status and rights within India.