Srinagar: Nasir Aslam Wani, advisor to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on Tuesday reiterated that the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood is a constitutional right and cannot be brushed aside by political statements.
“Statehood is our right. Let the BJP leaders say what they want—both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have committed to it on the floor of the House,” Wani said.
He also criticised the Waqf Bill, alleging that it unfairly targets a particular religious community. “The Waqf Bill is a target on a particular community,” he said, without naming the community directly.
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, led to the downgrading of the erstwhile state into a Union Territory after the abrogation of Article 370. Since then, political parties and civil society members have repeatedly demanded restoration of statehood.
The recently introduced Waqf Bill has sparked controversy, with several political leaders alleging that it centralises control over Muslim religious properties and undermines local autonomy.
