Will fight for restoration of full statehood: Ghulam Nabi Azad

Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Wednesday that he would fight for the restoration of statehood if he wins the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

Azad is contesting from Anantnag-Rajouri constituency from his Democratic Progressive Azad Party, which he had formed in September 2022 after leaving the Congress.

"I always lead from the front. Here also I want to lead from the front. Our fight for full statehood has not reached a logical conclusion. I am fighting LS elections to press for full statehood in Parliament, before the assembly elections are held here," said Azad. "Statehood like Delhi and Pondicherry is not acceptable to the people of J&K."


He further said, "We want the state as it was under Mughal, Sikh and Dogra rules. We don't want a lame statehood. There is a need to fight in LS as well." The former Union minister said statehood, Article 370 and 35 (A) were snatched from J&K in a jiffy. "I sat on the floor of Parliament in protest for four hours and then I spoke against it in the House," he said.