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| Ah, Appropriate Time ! | | | Omkar Dattatray | 10/26/2025 10:26:07 PM |
| The term “appropriate time” has, over the years, become the most frequently used and, perhaps, the most ambiguous expression employed by the Narendra Modi-led government when referring to the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. From the Prime Minister himself to Home Minister Amit Shah, Minister of State (Home) Nityanand Rai, and Dr. Jitendra Singh, every senior leader of the ruling dispensation has repeatedly asserted — in no uncertain terms — that statehood will be restored to Jammu and Kashmir “at the appropriate time.” While this assurance may sound reassuring on the surface, it is the recurring phrase “appropriate time” that raises both concern and confusion. The Home Minister, on numerous occasions, has reiterated this commitment, including during his recent visit to the region, yet without offering a clear timeline or criteria defining what constitutes this “appropriate time.” This conditional assurance has left citizens of the erstwhile state perplexed, skeptical, and, in many ways, disillusioned. Unfortunately, the Government of India continues to cloak its position behind this vague and indeterminate phrase. The expression “appropriate time” has now evolved into a convenient political slogan — a catchword used to defer, delay, and dilute a crucial constitutional and emotional issue that has direct implications for millions of people in this sensitive border region. The ambiguity surrounding this phrase is not merely semantic; it is deeply political. It serves as a camouflage for indecision — or perhaps, a deliberate attempt to buy time. The Centre’s continued use of this phrase suggests a lack of urgency, as if the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood were a matter of political convenience rather than constitutional necessity.
What New Delhi considers “appropriate” may not align with what the political leadership and the people of Jammu and Kashmir perceive as appropriate. This divergence of interpretation only widens the gap of mistrust between the Union government and the people of the region. Thus, the term “appropriate time” has become a euphemism for procrastination — one that conceals more than it reveals. Since the historic decision of August 5–6, 2019 — when the special status under Article 370 was abrogated and the state bifurcated into the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh — the people of Jammu and Kashmir have lived in a state of political limbo. Once a full-fledged state with its own legislature, identity, and dignity, it now stands reduced to a Union Territory under central administration. The emotional, political, and psychological consequences of this downsizing have been profound. For over six years now, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been repeatedly assured that statehood will be restored — yet each time, the promise is followed by the same ambiguous rider: “at the appropriate time.” Meanwhile, life continues under bureaucratic rule, with no tangible sign of a return to democratic normalcy.
The major political parties of Jammu and Kashmir — including the National Conference (NC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the Congress, the Apni Party led by Altaf Bukhari, the People’s Conference of Sajad Gani Lone, and the CPI(M) — have consistently demanded the revival of statehood. Their appeals, however, seem to fall on deaf ears. The refrain from New Delhi remains unchanged: “Statehood will be restored at the appropriate time.” This monotonous repetition has now begun to sound more like mockery than reassurance. The political leadership and the ordinary citizens alike are fatigued by this rhetoric, which many perceive as misleading and even manipulative. It is no exaggeration to say that the phrase “appropriate time” has become a political sedative — used to pacify the discontented populace while postponing genuine political engagement.
The National Conference has gone so far as to petition the Supreme Court, seeking clarity and direction on the restoration of statehood. Even the apex court, while upholding the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir, advised the Centre to restore statehood at the earliest possible opportunity. Yet, despite judicial and political pressure, the Centre continues to hide behind the veil of its favorite phrase. The people of Jammu and Kashmir — patient, resilient, yet deeply wounded — are growing increasingly restless. Their sense of alienation has only deepened since 2019. The absence of statehood has stripped the region of its political agency and identity, leaving citizens feeling orphaned in their own land. The uncertainty over their political future has bred resentment and a sense of betrayal that cannot be ignored indefinitely.
If the Modi government truly wishes to win the hearts and minds of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, it must move beyond hollow rhetoric and take tangible action. The continued delay in restoring statehood risks alienating an entire generation — particularly the youth, who may soon channel their frustration into agitation or protest. The government must recognize the gravity of this issue before resentment transforms into unrest. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are not asking for a favor; they are demanding a right that has been constitutionally and morally theirs. They seek dignity, representation, and a sense of belonging within the Indian Union — not merely administrative oversight. The restoration of statehood would not only reaffirm India’s democratic ethos but also strengthen the bond of trust between the Centre and the people of this strategically vital region.
To continue deferring this decision under the pretext of “appropriate time” serves no purpose other than deepening disillusionment. Political maturity demands that the Centre respond to the aspirations of the people with sincerity and sensitivity. The restoration of statehood is not merely a political gesture — it is a constitutional obligation and a democratic imperative. The million-dollar question, therefore, remains: When exactly is this appropriate time? What benchmarks define it? How long must the people of Jammu and Kashmir wait for what was once rightfully theirs? Each repetition of the phrase without corresponding action further erodes credibility and trust. It is time for the Modi government to awaken from its political inertia and act decisively.
The continuation of this ambiguity serves neither the interests of Jammu and Kashmir nor those of India as a whole. True statesmanship lies in healing wounds, not in postponing remedies.
Repeating the phrase “appropriate time” may serve short-term political expediency, but it cannot substitute for concrete policy action. The restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood should be announced without further delay. Only then can the alienation of its people begin to heal, and their faith in India’s democratic promise be truly restored. In conclusion, the Centre must understand that democracy thrives not on rhetoric but on responsiveness. The sooner New Delhi abandons its linguistic camouflage and restores full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, the sooner peace, dignity, and trust can be rekindled in this long-estranged region.
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