New Delhi, March 13: A delegation of Rajya Sabha MPs from the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) on Friday urged President Droupadi Murmu to expedite the restoration of full statehood to the Union Territory, asserting that it was a solemn promise made by the government on the floor of the House.
The delegation, comprising Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, and Shammi Oberoi, met the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan and submitted a detailed memorandum outlining their demands.
During the meeting, the MPs stressed that the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional status as a state should not be delayed, according to the Kashmir Convener. They also raised critical concerns regarding the protection of the region’s special land and job rights, seeking constitutional safeguards for the local populace.
The leaders urged the central government to roll out a comprehensive economic and employment package to address the rising unemployment among the youth. “The UT is facing a severe jobs crisis, and a special package is needed to stimulate growth and provide livelihood opportunities,” the memorandum stated.
Asserting regional rights over resources, the delegation demanded the transfer of major hydroelectric power projects—currently under the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC)—to Jammu and Kashmir. They argued that the UT must receive its fair share of benefits from its own natural resources to fund sustainable development.
In a significant departure from routine political demands, the MPs also brought the President’s attention to the climate crisis, specifically the rapid retreat of the Kolahoi Glacier. They called for urgent scientific assessments and policy interventions to protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, warning that the melting glacier poses a long-term threat to the region’s water security and ecology.
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