Srinagar, Mar 24 (KNO): Member Parliament (MP) Baramulla, Er Rashid on Tuesday called for the immediate restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, saying the continued delays were undermining governance and democratic functioning in the Union Territory.
Rashid, speaking in the Parliament, said the absence of statehood had created an administrative imbalance, leading to frequent friction between the Lieutenant Governor’s administration and the elected government. "Without restoring full political powers, policy decisions and development initiatives would remain ineffective," he said, as reported by the news agency — Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
Raising corruption as a major concern, the MP called for the constitution of a national-level commission to investigate alleged black money and disproportionate assets accumulated by politicians, bureaucrats and other officials over the past three decades. He claimed that a significant portion of public funds was lost to bribery and misuse and said recovering such money could be redirected towards welfare sectors like education.
On foreign policy, the AIP chief urged the government to take a humanitarian stand in support of Iran, while expressing sympathy for civilians affected by conflict in Israel. Highlighting public solidarity in Kashmir, he said people had contributed generously for victims abroad and announced that he would donate one month’s salary towards rebuilding a school in Iran where children were killed.
Er Rashid sought a special financial package for the region, pointing to losses linked to the Indus Waters Treaty and underutilisation of local resources, particularly hydropower controlled by central agencies.
He also called for infrastructure upgrades in Baramulla and adjoining districts. He urged increased corporate social responsibility spending by public and private sector entities in remote and border areas. Rashid also stressed the need to expand higher education facilities in north Kashmir.
The Baramulla MP also objected to attempts to alter historical narratives, warning against the removal of figures like Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Allama Iqbal from academic discourse. Rewriting history, he said, would harm social cohesion—(KNO)