NC MPs press Centre to restore J&K statehood in maiden Parliament speeches

SRINAGAR: Newly elected National Conference lawmakers used their first day in Parliament to demand restoration of J&K’s statehood and remind the Centre of its pledge to do so. In the Oct 24 elections for four Rajya Sabha seats from J&K, NC won three while BJP secured one.CM Omar Abdullah applauded their maiden interventions as “first day, first show”. He was present in the House as it convened for the winter session Monday.NC member Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan said authority in J&K rests with LG Manoj Sinha, leaving the elected govt without powers. “I will talk about J&K only. In 2024, elections were held in J&K and they were the fairest polls,” he said, adding that voters delivered a strong mandate to govt under Omar Abdullah and that keeping it powerless “is not benefiting anyone”.Omar later wrote on X that Ramzan used the earliest opportunity to remind the Centre of its commitment to restore statehood.MP Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo said PM Narendra Modi had promised in Parliament to return statehood and urged both him and Union home minister Amit Shah to honour that commitment. Omar praised him online, asking Kichloo to “keep espousing the issues of J&K and fighting for our rights”, adding that people in Chenab valley will closely watch his performance.NC’s third Rajya Sabha member, Gurwinder Singh Oberoi, took oath. Omar called him a close friend and said he carries “a lot of hopes and expectations.”