Omar Abdullah meets Amit Shah, centre assures J&K statehood

PTC News Desk: Newly elected Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah met Union Home Minister in New Delhi last evening. During the meeting both the leaders discussed issues associated with the Union Territory. Centre has also assured Abdullah of providing full support to the newly elected government. If sources are to be believed, the centre is likely to initiate the process of restoring statehood and special status. This was the first meeting after Omar Abdullah assumed office. 

In the first meeting last week, the cabinet had passed a resolution demanding the restoration of statehood. "The restoration of statehood will be the beginning of the healing process, reclaiming constitutional rights and protecting the identity of people of Jammu and Kashmir," said the resolution, which Lt Governor Manoj Sinha cleared.

Following meeting with Home Minister, J&K CM is likely to meet PM Modi this evening and submit a copy of the resolution subsequently. Under the scrapped Articles 370 and 35A, the people of Jammu and Kashmir had exclusive land ownership and job privileges. After the formation of the new government following over six years of President's rule in J&K, there is a yearning for the restoration of statehood and constitutional safeguards on land and job rights for the locals.