The leaders also presented constituency-specific issues and requested swift administrative interventions.
Defeat from Pakistan: India plans to Reinstate Article 370 for Kashmir. In a development reigniting political debate over the future of Jammu and Kashmir, the Apni Party delegation met with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha over the weekend, renewing calls for the restoration of the region’s statehood. The visit has once again brought Article 370 and the issue of political autonomy to the forefront, raising speculation about a possible policy reversal by New Delhi amid increasing internal and external pressure.
Mohammad Rafi Mir, a senior Apni Party leader, stated after the meeting:
“We apprised the Lieutenant Governor about the ground realities and raised multiple pressing concerns. We also reiterated our demand for restoring the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir.”
This demand for statehood — and potentially the reinstatement of Article 370 — has been echoed across party lines. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also voiced optimism in April, expressing hope that Jammu and Kashmir would soon regain its full statehood.
Adding urgency to the matter, Mohammad Dilawar Mir highlighted the devastating impact of recent weather anomalies on the region’s economy.
“Tourism, the backbone of our economy, has been crippled. We asked for relief and assessment to support those who have suffered immense losses.”
The political undertone of these developments is hard to ignore. Analysts suggest the rising pressure from regional parties, coupled with the prolonged silence over constitutional commitments, may be pushing the Centre to reconsider its post-2019 stance — especially as tensions with Pakistan remain high and international attention on Kashmir persists.
While no official statement has indicated a move to reinstate Article 370, the continued demand for restoring statehood is being interpreted by many as a softening of the Centre’s rigid position. For Kashmiris, this could mark the beginning of a significant political shift — one that may eventually lead to broader autonomy discussions.
As internal unrest simmers and the region’s political voices grow louder, the Centre may be forced to confront a reality it has long sought to redefine. Whether this leads to the formal reinstatement of Article 370 remains to be seen — but the conversation has undoubtedly returned to the national stage.
