Restore J&K statehood, says human rights forum

SRINAGAR: The Forum for Human Rights in J&K has called for full restoration of statehood and repeal of 2019 Reorganisation Act, cautioning that linking statehood to the security situation and terrorist attacks could erode democratic rights in the Union territory.It presented its annual report “Seven Years Under Union Rule — With a Special Section on Ladakh & Pakistan-held Territories of J&K (Aug 2025–July 2026)” to National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, PDP president and former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti, CPM’s MY Tarigami and Congress’s J&K president Tariq Hamid Karra.The forum said arguments that restoration of statehood is “not appropriate” because of security concerns and terrorist attacks are dangerous and could be used to undermine people’s democratic rights.It also backed statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.It praised J&K HC for a series of orders quashing detentions under Public Safety Act and granting bail under UAPA and PSA “…but we are constrained to note that its repeated strictures do not appear to have led to course correction by police,” the report said.The forum, an informal group of concerned citizens, is co-chaired by former Union home secretary Gopal Pillai and Radha Kumar, a former member of the group of interlocutors for J&K. The report also alleged a familiar backlash against Kashmiris after terrorist attacks, including the recent Red Fort blast in New Delhi, saying they faced housing discrimination, forced evictions, aggressive verification and hostility from neighbours, shopkeepers, and co-workers.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.