The debate surrounding the restoration of Statehood to Jammu & Kashmir has entered a curious phase. There is now an overwhelming consensus that statehood must be restored. The Union Government has repeatedly promised it. Political parties across Jammu & Kashmir demand it. The people overwhelmingly expect it.

Yet, despite this rare consensus, some now argue that before we even protest for statehood, we must first hold another meeting, evolve another roadmap, or first resolve every constitutional issue arising from August 5, 2019.

That approach risks becoming another excuse for delay. The people of Jammu & Kashmir have waited long enough. Statehood is not a favour to be bestowed. It is a solemn constitutional and political commitment repeatedly made by the highest leadership of the country. The Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has publicly assured the people that statehood will be restored. The Hon’ble Home Minister Shri Amit Shah has reiterated this commitment in the Parliament. During the hearings before the Supreme Court, the Union Government itself stated that Statehood would be restored at an “appropriate time.”

The obvious question today is: appropriate time - If not now, then when?Every milestone cited by the Union Government has been achieved. Delimitation has been completed. Parliamentary elections have been held. Assembly elections have been successfully conducted. An elected government has been functioning for nearly two years. What remains is not another process. What remains is a decision.

It is against this backdrop that the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference decided to organise a peaceful democratic protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi during the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.Some have questioned why an all-party meeting was not convened before announcing the protest. The answer is simple. Jammu & Kashmir has not suffered from a shortage of meetings. Since August 2019, there have been countless discussions, consultations, statements and appeals. Every........

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