“D. Raja’s Fire‑Letter to Modi: Restore J&K Statehood Now! 🗳️✊”
- CPI National
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
To,
Shri Narendra Modi,
Hon’ble Prime Minister,
Government of India,
South Block, New Delhi.
Sub: Restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s Statehood Without Any Further Delay
Respected Prime Minister Modi ji,
I write to you on the question of restoring the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir, a matter that concerns not only its people but also the very spirit of our Constitution and the federal ethos of India. In August 2019, when Article 370 was unilaterally abrogated and the State was downgraded to a Union Territory, I, along with other like-minded leaders, opposed the move on the floor of Parliament. Our struggle to regain full statehood continues since then. The reorganisation was presented as a temporary and transitional measure, and you yourself repeatedly assured the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the nation that statehood would be restored at the earliest. More than six years later, the people continue to wait, and ‘Delhi se Doori’ remains unaddressed.
The people of Jammu and Kashmir have demonstrated remarkable faith in democracy despite prolonged disempowerment. Their record participation in the recent Assembly elections, followed by the peaceful and united response to the tragic Pahalgam terrorist attack under the watch of the Union Territory administration, are powerful reminders that while the people remain committed to the idea of India, not everything is normal on the ground. These moments were extraordinary opportunities to win hearts and minds and to reinforce national unity and federal trust. Yet, the absence of statehood continues to cast a shadow, and a governance structure where a democratically elected government functions under the constant dominance of central control undermines the very idea of self-governance.
The denial of statehood is not just a regional issue but a constitutional concern. In our history, the trajectory has always been from Union Territory to State, never the reverse. To single out Jammu and Kashmir for this prolonged and unprecedented disempowerment erodes the very principle of equality that was invoked by you to justify the changes of August 2019. It also sets a dangerous precedent where the federal character of our Republic could be reduced to a matter of central discretion rather than a constitutional right. To restore the federal relationship between the Union and Jammu and Kashmir is not a concession. It is an act of justice, a constitutional course correction, and a gesture that will resonate in the hearts of every citizen of the region.
In this backdrop, I earnestly urge you to bring forward a Bill to restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament itself. This is the moment to end the prolonged wait and to heal historical wounds with a gesture that strengthens both national unity and our constitutional morality. I trust that you will do justice and ensure that the people of Jammu and Kashmir can once again live with the dignity, rights, and democratic self-governance that our Constitution guarantees.
Yours sincerely,
Sd/-
D. RAJA
General Secretary