Asif Malik
JAMMU, Feb 23 : National Conference Rajya Sabha member Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan on Monday urged the Centre to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, describing it as a “right” and a solemn promise made by the Prime Minister in Parliament.
Speaking to news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS), the NC leader demanded the return of power projects currently operated by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), arguing that the Union Territory should control its own resources.
“Statehood must be restored to Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest. It is not just a demand; it is our right,” Ramzan said.
He recalled the assurance given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the floor of the Lok Sabha on August 5, 2019, and urged the government to fulfill that commitment now that the delimitation process has been completed and elections have been held in the Union Territory.
While acknowledging the assurances given by Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the safety of Kashmiri students and traders outside the UT, Ramzan stressed that lasting normalcy would only return with political empowerment.
“The Home Minister has assured that he will not allow the harassment of Kashmiris and has written to Chief Ministers in this regard. The situation has improved, but the ultimate solution lies in the restoration of our state,” the MP added.
On the issue of power projects, Ramzan said the NHPC had earned substantial profits from projects located in Jammu and Kashmir and should hand them over to the UT government.
“We have the capacity to generate 25,000 MW of power, but we lack investment because our resources are with the Centre. The older, profit-making projects must be returned to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he added. (KNS)
