logo
Kharge, Rahul write to PM Modi; urge Govt to bring legislation to grant Statehood to J&K

Kharge, Rahul write to PM Modi; urge Govt to bring legislation to grant Statehood to J&K

The Hindu16-07-2025
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi jointly wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (July 16, 2025), urging the Government to bring a legislation in the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament to grant full Statehood to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
They also requested that the government bring forward legislation to include the Union Territory of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution.
In their letter to Mr. Modi, Mr. Kharge and Mr. Gandhi said that for the past five years, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have consistently called for the restoration of full Statehood.
This demand is both legitimate and firmly grounded in their constitutional and democratic rights, they said.
"It is important to recognise that while there have been instances of Union Territories being granted statehood in the past, the case of Jammu and Kashmir is without precedent in independent India. This is the first time a full-fledged State has been downgraded to a Union Territory following its bifurcation," Congress president Mr. Kharge and former party chief Mr. Gandhi said.
"Your goodself has, on multiple occasions, personally reiterated the government's commitment to restoring statehood. In your interview in Bhubaneswar on 19 May 2024, you stated: 'The restoration of statehood is a solemn promise we have made and we stand by it'. Again, while addressing a rally in Srinagar on 19 September 2024, you reaffirmed: 'We have said in Parliament that we will restore the region's statehood'," They said in their letter to Modi.
Furthermore, the Union Government has made similar assurances before the Supreme Court in the Article 370 matter, submitting that statehood would be restored "at the earliest and as soon as possible", they pointed out.
"In view of the foregoing and aforementioned, we urge upon the Government to bring forward a legislation in the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament to grant full statehood to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir," Mr. Kharge and Mr. Gandhi said.
"Additionally, we request that the Government bring forward legislation to include the Union Territory of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution," they said.
This would be a significant step towards addressing the cultural, developmental, and political aspirations of the people of Ladakh, while safeguarding their rights, land, and identity, Mr. Kharge and Mr. Gandhi said in their letter.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Motion to remove Justice Yashwant Varma over graft charge to begin in Lok Sabha
Motion to remove Justice Yashwant Varma over graft charge to begin in Lok Sabha

New Indian Express

time29 minutes ago

  • New Indian Express

Motion to remove Justice Yashwant Varma over graft charge to begin in Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI: The motion to remove Justice Yashwant Varma, who is embroiled in a suspected graft case, will be taken up in Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced on Friday, stating that it was agreed by all parties to move unitedly in action against alleged corruption in judiciary. Official sources said the opposition-sponsored notice for a similar motion in Rajya Sabha has not been admitted in the Upper House, paving the way for the Lower House to initiate the exercise. Speaker Om Birla is expected to announce the three-member enquiry committee to probe the charge against the Allahabad High Court judge. "We shouldn't remain in any doubt, proceedings to remove Justice Yashwant Varma will begin in the Lok Sabha," Rijiju said. According to the Judges (Inquiry) Act, the proceedings will move to Rajya Sabha after they are over in Lok Sabha. Over 150 MPs of the ruling alliance as well the Opposition had signed the notice in Lok Sabha.

Rajnath to initiate 16-hour debate on Operation Sindoor in Lok Sabha on July 28
Rajnath to initiate 16-hour debate on Operation Sindoor in Lok Sabha on July 28

New Indian Express

time29 minutes ago

  • New Indian Express

Rajnath to initiate 16-hour debate on Operation Sindoor in Lok Sabha on July 28

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday said the Lok Sabha will hold a special discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor on July 28, amid continued disruptions from the Opposition during the Monsoon Session. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to initiate the discussion on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha on Monday, with the Rajya Sabha expected to take up the debate on Tuesday. Addressing media persons in the national capital, Rijiju stated that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla convened a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) earlier in the day, during which it was reiterated that the government is prepared for a full debate on the sensitive issues. "Today, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla called the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), and it was reiterated that we are ready for a discussion on Operation Sindoor. It has been decided today that there will be a special discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor on Monday (28th July)," Rijiju said. Rijiju said Operation Sindoor would be debated first, followed by other matters, with 16-hour discussions scheduled in both Houses – on July 28 in the Lok Sabha and July 29 in the Rajya Sabha.

32 Hours Booked: Marathon Discussion On Operation Sindoor Slated In Parliament Next Week
32 Hours Booked: Marathon Discussion On Operation Sindoor Slated In Parliament Next Week

India.com

time29 minutes ago

  • India.com

32 Hours Booked: Marathon Discussion On Operation Sindoor Slated In Parliament Next Week

Monsoon Session: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday said that there will be a special discussion on the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha on July 28 (Monday) and in the Rajya Sabha on July 29 (Tuesday). On April 22, terrorists gunned down 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. In response to the brutal attack, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Addressing the media, Rijiju stated that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla convened a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) earlier in the day, during which it was reiterated that the Centre is prepared for a discussion on Operation Sindoor. He added that the discussion will be held for 16 hours in the Lok Sabha and for 16 hours in the Rajya Sabha. 'Today, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla called the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), and it was reiterated that we are ready for a discussion on Operation Sindoor. It has been decided today that there will be a special discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor on Monday (28th July),' Rijiju said. 'We have told them that Operation Sindoor will be discussed first. We will decide which issues will be discussed after that... Operation Sindoor will be debated for 16 hours in the Lok Sabha on Monday (July 28) and for 16 hours in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday (July 29),' the Minister added. #WATCH | Delhi | Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Kiren Rijiju says, "All issues cannot be discussed together... The opposition has raised several issues, like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar and others. We have told them that Operation Sindoor will be… — ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2025 'Before the monsoon session began, several opposition parties, including the Congress, had requested that Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack be discussed in Parliament. The government said we are ready to discuss it... The opposition has been creating a ruckus in Parliament from day one and protesting inside and outside Parliament and not allowing the House to function,' he said. 'In the first week of the monsoon session of Parliament, we have been able to pass only one bill... I urge all opposition parties not to disrupt the proceedings of Parliament,' Rijiju emphasised. Opposition parties have been demanding a discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, United States President Donald Trump's repeated claims that he brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and on electoral rolls revision in Bihar. Operation Sindoor Discussion Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to initiate the discussion on Operation Sindhoor in the Lok Sabha on Monday, with Rajya Sabha expected to take up the debate on Tuesday. According to sources cited by the news agency ANI, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and BJP MPs Anurag Thakur and Nishikant Dubey are expected to take part in the discussion in Lok Sabha. Furthermore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to participate in the discussion in both houses. Meanwhile, sources also informed that Rajnath Singh and Jaishankar will be among the ministers who will take part in the discussion in the Rajya Sabha. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday, July 28, will initiate the discussion on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha. Other ministers participating in the discussion include Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, and BJP MPs Anurag Thakur and Nishikant Dubey. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to participate in the discussion. Meanwhile, the Defence Minister, EAM, and other ministers would participate in the discussion in the Rajya Sabha as well. PM Modi may also participate. ANI also reported that TDP's Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu and GM Harish Balayogi are expected to take part in the discussion on Operation Sindoor in Lok Sabha. From the Samajwadi Party, its chief Akhilesh Yadav and MP Rajiv Rai will take part in the debate. Both houses have witnessed repeated adjournments since the beginning of the monsoon session of Parliament on July 21.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store