October 24, 2024: In a significant development for Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured Chief Minister Omar Abdullah that the central government will initiate the process of restoring statehood to the region. This meeting, held in New Delhi yesterday, marks a pivotal moment five years after Jammu and Kashmir was stripped of its statehood and special status.

Sources reveal that the half-hour discussion took place in a cordial atmosphere, with Shah expressing the central government’s full support for Abdullah’s newly elected administration. This assurance comes in the wake of a resolution passed by the J&K cabinet during its first meeting last week, which called for the restoration of statehood.

"The restoration of statehood will be the beginning of the healing process, reclaiming constitutional rights, and protecting the identity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," stated the resolution, which has already received approval from Lt Governor Manoj Sinha.

Abdullah is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later today to formally present the resolution. This document emphasizes not only the demand for statehood but also the newly elected government's commitment to safeguarding the unique identity and constitutional rights of the region's residents.

The resolution highlights the importance of restoring exclusive land ownership and job privileges, previously guaranteed under the now-abrogated Articles 370 and 35A. With the region having been under President’s rule for over six years, there is a palpable desire among the local populace for the reinstatement of statehood and constitutional protections.