Congress supported Assembly statehood resolution over land rights, jobs: Tariq Hameed Karra

Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra on Sunday said his party supports the recent resolution passed in the Legislative Assembly advocating for statehood along with locals’ rights over land, jobs and natural resources.

Karra emphasised that after the Supreme Court’s ruling on the abrogation of Article 370, the demand for statehood remains the only practical option. Addressing the debate sparked by his and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s comments on Article 370, Karra said that he backs Kharge’s remarks, which counter the BJP’s criticisms during election campaigns in poll-bound states.

Only option

After the SC’s verdict on abrogation, the only viable demand left is for statehood. This is because the SC clearly stated that whatever happened was constitutional as far as Parliament is concerned. Tariq Hameed Karra, J&KPCC president

He said, “Kharge’s remarks reflects the stance of the JKPCC but is rooted in the resolution passed by the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on August 6, 2019”.

Karra further said, “As far as the Congress is concerned, we made our position clear. After the SC’s verdict on abrogation, the only viable demand left is for statehood. This is because the SC clearly stated that whatever happened was constitutional as far as Parliament is concerned”. “Our stance has been that statehood must come with special guarantees — guarantees for land, jobs, natural resources and cultural preservation. However, the way the BJP started its rhetoric, Kharge ji clarified and countered it effectively,” he said.

Karra criticised the BJP leadership for repeatedly raising the issue of Article 370 during poll campaigning to target the Congress. “If the BJP leaders say it is settled, we also accept that after the SC’s verdict, it is settled. But if it is truly settled and Parliament has also decided on the matter, why do you keep bringing it up repeatedly? For electoral benefits, you exploit the matter and raise it again and again, even though it is settled. That is what Kharge ji meant,” the Congress leader added.

Karra said, “When you read the resolution, it mentions ‘special status’. These are three different things — special status, Article 370 and statehood. Let me explain their interconnection. When you talk about special status, some interpret it as Article 370. If the SC had not given its verdict, it could have meant Article 370 as a form of special status. However, the SC’s verdict is clear — it is not in our favour but in favour of the Government of India, which abrogated it”.

The Congress leader further said, “Now, you tell me, what status is left that we are still deprived of and that we should demand? According to my understanding, the only thing left is statehood. That is how they are linked. As of today, until the SC’s decision is overturned or Parliament changes it, the only status that is still missing is statehood. That is what we have been saying,” he added.

Stressing that restoring statehood is mandatory for changing anti-people laws imposed in J&K over the past few years, he said, “Why so? Because only after we get statehood can certain laws be reviewed, including all those imposed during the previous period here.”