In a significant development ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have jointly penned a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the government to bring forth legislation to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The leaders of opposition in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha emphasized the "legitimate" and "constitutional" demand of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the restoration of their statehood, which was revoked on August 5, 2019.

The Congress leaders highlighted that the downgrading of a state to a Union Territory is unprecedented in independent India. They reminded the Prime Minister of his previous commitments to restore statehood to the region, including statements made in Parliament and at public events. The letter also referenced the Supreme Court's observation that statehood should be restored to Jammu and Kashmir "at the earliest and as soon as possible".

In addition to the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, Kharge and Gandhi also called for the inclusion of Ladakh in the Constitution's Sixth Schedule. They argued that this would address the cultural, developmental, and political aspirations of the people of Ladakh, while also safeguarding their land, rights, and identity. The Sixth Schedule provides for the administration of tribal areas through autonomous councils with legislative, executive, judicial, and financial powers, granting them a degree of self-governance.

Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, welcomed the initiative by the Congress leaders. Speaking to reporters, Abdullah expressed his gratitude to Kharge and Gandhi for raising the issue with the Centre. He stated that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are not demanding anything that has not already been promised to them. Abdullah reiterated that the central government has repeatedly assured the public, both inside and outside Parliament, as well as before the Supreme Court, that statehood would be restored to Jammu and Kashmir at the appropriate time. He urged the government to honor its commitments and restore statehood to the region without further delay.

The Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) Jammu & Kashmir, a civil society group comprising senior retired officials, echoed the call for the restoration of statehood. The GCC emphasized that restoring statehood is essential for the larger national interest. Mainstream political parties in the Union Territory have also consistently supported the demand for the restoration of statehood, emphasizing its importance for democratic accountability, governance, and public trust.

The joint letter by Kharge and Gandhi is a significant step towards addressing the long-pending demand for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. With the Monsoon Session of Parliament approaching, it remains to be seen whether the government will heed the call and introduce legislation to fulfill its promise to the people of the region.