A Sequel No One Asked For—Now in Its 7th Year
Peerzada Masarat Shah
August 5, 2025, marks six years since Jammu and Kashmir was stripped of its statehood and relegated to a Union Territory. The day Article 370 was abrogated in 2019, the Indian government promised a swift return to statehood, dangling assurances of “normalcy” and “development” like carrots before a weary population. Yet, six years later, the promise remains unfulfilled—a tired refrain repeated in speeches, courtrooms, and headlines, leaving 1.25 crore people caught in a limbo of bureaucracy and unkept pledges.
The Promise and Its Echoes
In 2019, the abrogation of Article 370 was sold as a bold step toward integration and prosperity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the nation that statehood would be restored once “normalcy” was achieved. Union Home Minister Amit Shah echoed this, emphasizing that the Union Territory status was temporary. In 2023, the Solicitor General told the Supreme Court that elections and statehood could be expected by September 2024. These promises were not vague whispers but public commitments, broadcast to millions and recorded in parliamentary proceedings.
Yet, September 2024 came and went. The only thing delivered was silence. The phrase “at the appropriate time” has become a political cliché, as hollow as a campaign slogan past its expiry date. For the people of Jammu and Kashmir, it’s not just a delay—it’s a betrayal of trust.
A Glimmer of Democracy, Quickly Dimmed
In 2024, Jammu and Kashmir held its first Assembly elections since the 2019 downgrade. The polls were a triumph of democratic spirit, with a 63.88% voter turnout—the highest in three decades, according to the Election Commission of India. The newly elected Assembly, representing parties from the National Conference to the BJP, passed a unanimous resolution demanding statehood restoration. It was a rare moment of unity in a polarized region, a clear mandate from the people.
But New Delhi’s response? A deafening silence. The resolution, like countless appeals before it, was met with bureaucratic indifference. The elected representatives, meant to embody local governance, remain powerless, their authority undermined by a system that prioritizes control over collaboration.
Voices in the Void
The demand for statehood isn’t limited to politicians. Legal luminaries, civil society, and experts have joined the chorus. In 2023, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud urged the government to act swiftly, warning that prolonged Union Territory status could erode democratic principles. Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, in his retirement speech, questioned the constitutional validity of the downgrade, calling it a “temporary measure stretched beyond reason.” Former interlocutors like Radha Kumar and retired Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak have written extensively, arguing that statehood is essential for restoring trust.
In 2025, over 100 retired civil servants, academics, and youth groups penned an open letter to the Prime Minister, citing the region’s declining public trust and rising disillusionment. Student organizations, such as the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, have held peaceful protests, their placards reading, “Statehood is our right, not a favor.” Yet, these voices—articulate, urgent, and diverse—disappear into a void of inaction, met with vague assurances like “under review” or “being considered.”
Governance on Autopilot
Under Union Territory status, Jammu and Kashmir’s governance is a shadow of its former self. Key decisions—on security, land use, and even local recruitment—are made in New Delhi, often without consulting local stakeholders. The Lieutenant Governor, appointed by the Centre, wields disproportionate power, sidelining elected representatives. For instance, in 2024, the transfer of 25 senior IAS and IPS officers was executed without input from the elected Assembly, a move criticized by local leaders as “colonial-style governance.”
The much-touted “grassroots democracy”—panchayat and municipal elections—has proven cosmetic. Elected sarpanches and councilors lack authority over funds or projects, rendering their roles symbolic. A 2024 report by the Jammu and Kashmir Policy Institute highlighted that 70% of panchayat funds remain unutilized due to bureaucratic bottlenecks, leaving rural infrastructure in disrepair.
The “Right Time” Myth
The government’s favorite excuse—“now is not the right time”—is as vague as it is infuriating. By objective measures, the region has seen progress: terrorist incidents dropped by 50% between 2020 and 2024, per the Ministry of Home Affairs. Development projects, like the ₹80,000-crore Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link, are underway. Voter turnout, as noted, is robust. Yet, the “right time” remains elusive, a moving target without a definition.
Is it zero violence? A specific economic milestone? Or merely political convenience tied to the next election cycle? Without clarity, the excuse feels like a stalling tactic, leaving citizens in a perpetual waiting room.
Why Statehood Matters
This isn’t about symbolism—it’s about dignity and democracy. Without statehood, government jobs are mired in red tape; over 60,000 vacancies remain unfilled since 2019, per the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission. Youth, like 24-year-old engineer Aasif Mir, feel disenfranchised, their aspirations stifled by a system that ignores local talent. Environmental concerns, such as the deforestation caused by centrally approved hydropower projects, are sidelined. Corruption festers under unaccountable bureaucrats, with a 2024 Transparency International report ranking Jammu and Kashmir among India’s most graft-prone regions.
A Bitter Punchline
Among locals, “statehood soon” is now a bitter joke. Social media is rife with memes: one viral post from 2025 shows a calendar marked “Statehood Day” with every date crossed out. The humor masks a deeper frustration—a population tired of waiting, tired of promises, tired of being governed like a distant colony.
As India celebrates its 78th Independence Day, the people of Jammu and Kashmir wait for their own liberation—not from external rule, but from a system that denies them agency. The clock ticks on, but for 1.25 crore people, time is running out. Statehood isn’t just a policy—it’s a promise of trust, dignity, and democracy. And six years is long enough to wait.
