Govt committed to restore statehood to J&K: LG Sinha in Assembly

The Jammu and Kashmir government is committed to strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions and urban local bodies by ensuring timely elections at all levels, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Monday. He made the remarks during his address on the first day of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s budget session in Jammu. Sinha said that the government is dedicated to engaging with stakeholders until the desire for statehood is realised.
“The government is committed to restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. We will continue to engage with all stakeholders to achieve this goal,” Sinha said. The LG added that the government is committed to facilitate the return of Kashmiri pandits and create a safe and conducive environment for it.His address covered almost every aspect of the work done in the past including developmental works like construction of two bypasses in Ramban and Banihal towns on Jammu-Srinagar national highway.
The Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Dedicated Backward Classes Commission, established in June 2023 to conduct empirical studies on Other Backward Classes (OBC) representation, submitted its final recommendations to the government last week, brightening the outlook for polls to local bodies. Municipal bodies, panchayats and block development councils in the Union Territory have been without elected representatives for more than a year.