SRINAGAR: Congress Chief Whip and MLA Bandipora, Nizamuddin Bhat, on Wednesday urged the government to form a house panel comprising all parties to follow up on the restoration of statehood with the Central government.
Speaking in the Assembly on the issue, the senior Congress leader, stressed that any further delay in pursuing the matter would be more harmful than beneficial.
He said that it is essential for the Assembly to form a committee to engage with the Central government and national parties on the issue of statehood restoration.
“There are two options for us—either we approach the government or we take our case to the people of India. This house should form a committee of all parties to test the sincerity of everyone on this issue. I urge the Chief Minister, who holds a massive mandate and will be respected in any democracy, to represent the aspirations of the people,” Bhat said.
He further urged the Chief Minister not to shy away from the matter and to personally nominate an all-party house panel to seek an audience with the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. “A delegation led by the Chief Minister should present this case before the Central government. This is a state that remains in limbo with a diminished status. We have not been elevated to a position we can take pride in,” he said.
Bhat emphasised that it is the responsibility of the Chief Minister, the Assembly, and its members to act decisively if they are sincere with the people. “We already have a case, and Parliament has also made promises to us. Let there be either an all-party delegation or a panel of the house to follow up on this matter,” he said. —(KNO)
