Restoring J&K's statehood sooner the better: Ghulam Nabi Azad

Jammu: Democratic Progressive Azad Party chairperson Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed his firm belief that statehood would be restored in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday and said that the sooner it is done, the better it will be, PTI reported.

He asserted that statehood is an absolute necessity for the development and progress of the region.

Azad also played down speculation about him being nominated for the Vice-President's post and asked the media and people to stop resorting to such rumours.

"I am thankful to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister for promising that statehood will be restored in Jammu and Kashmir. I firmly believe that they will return the statehood. But the sooner it is done, the better it will be," Azad told reporters during a visit to Jammu's Reasi district.

Responding to a question, Azad said, "For the development, progress and the overall betterment of the region, statehood is absolutely necessary. This is not a matter of Hindu or Muslim, or of Kashmir or Jammu; it concerns every party, religion, and community. Statehood is essential for all political parties, whether the BJP, National Conference or PDP."

He said the statehood restoration should happen at the earliest.

"When I was a minister, I had recommended the conversion of three Union Territories into states, and all three were granted statehood. But, for the first time, I saw my own state being turned into a Union Territory. That was an unfortunate event."

Replying to another query, he said that Article 370 and statehood are two different things.

"Our immediate demand is for the restoration of statehood. I have already spoken extensively in Parliament about Article 370. You and the entire media have heard it."

He reiterated his earlier statement that statehood can be reinstated only if Prime Minister Narendra Modi brings a bill in Parliament or the Supreme Court reviews the matter and gives a verdict.