NEW DELHI: Indian opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have demanded of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to restore full statehood to Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and extend constitutional protections under the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Modi, the two leaders of the Indian National Congress party termed the restoration of statehood to Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir a “legitimate” and “long-pending” demand, citing constitutional and democratic rights.
The letter was made public by India’s Congress Party and shared on its official X account.
The letter bears the signatures of Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha (upper house of Parliament), and Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament).
The Indian National Congress, formed in 1885, is a broadly based political party of India. The political party formed most of India’s governments and often had a strong presence in many state governments.
“We urge upon the Government to bring forward a legislation in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament to grant full statehood to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Additionally, we request that the Government bring forward legislation to include the Union Territory of… pic.twitter.com/GQuthpxG79
— Congress (@INCIndia) July 16, 2025
“This is the first time a full-fledged state has been downgraded to a Union Territory following its bifurcation. This has no precedent in independent India,” the letter stated, referring to the Indian government’s decision of 5 August 2019 to revoke Article 370 and strip occupied Jammu and Kashmir of its special status.
The opposition leaders reminded Prime Minister Modi of his past commitments regarding the restoration of statehood.
They referred to his interview in Bhubaneswar on 19 May 2024, in which he said: “The restoration of statehood is a solemn promise we have made and we stand by it.”
The letter also cited his speech in Srinagar on 19 September 2024, where he reaffirmed: “We have said in Parliament that we will restore the region’s statehood.”
Gandhi and Kharge pointed out that the government had made similar assurances before India’s Supreme Court during hearings challenging the abrogation of Article 370, promising that statehood would be restored “at the earliest and as soon as possible.”
“In view of the foregoing, we urge upon the Government to bring forward legislation in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament to grant full statehood to (occupied) Jammu and Kashmir,” the letter read.
The opposition leaders also pressed for the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
Gandhi and Kharge noted that the demand, raised by local activists including Sonam Wangchuk, seeks to protect the tribal identity and cultural heritage of the region.
“This would be a significant step towards addressing the cultural, developmental, and political aspirations of the people of Ladakh, while safeguarding their rights, land, and identity,” the letter stated.
Unilateral abrogation of Article 370
On 5 August 2019, the Indian government unilaterally abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Article 370 had granted Jammu and Kashmir autonomy to legislate on matters except defence, communications, and foreign affairs.
It also included Article 35A, which allowed the state to define its permanent residents and restrict land ownership by non-residents.
Critics argue that the abrogation was unconstitutional, as the Constituent Assembly of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir—whose recommendation was required to repeal Article 370—was dissolved in 1957.
The move has been widely criticised for undermining the region’s identity and violating its constitutional guarantees.
Since the revocation, the Indian government has issued over 3.5 million domicile certificates under new rules that allow outsiders to claim residency rights in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to reports, these include retired Indian military personnel, government employees, and individuals who have lived in the region for more than 15 years or studied there.
The opposition and civil society groups have raised concerns that the mass issuance of domicile certificates is a deliberate attempt to alter the demographic composition of the region.
