Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s recent reiteration that statehood to Jammu and Kashmir will be restored “at an appropriate time” is not without precedent. Since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 and the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh—the Union Government and its representatives have maintained this position. However, over four years later, the absence of a defined timeline continues to generate frustration, uncertainty, and a democratic deficit among the region’s citizens.The LG’s statement comes against the backdrop of major security and administrative efforts aimed at projecting “normalcy” and development. Tourism has seen record numbers, investments are being sought, and infrastructure projects are being fast-tracked. Yet, while development is important, governance in a democracy must be rooted in representation. A people’s government, chosen through free and fair elections, remains the core of constitutional legitimacy. The promise of restoring statehood was not just political lip service; it was explicitly made in Parliament by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. It was reiterated multiple times by central leaders as a confidence-building measure.Political engagement, particularly at the legislative and policymaking levels, remains active l. This is a region with a unique historical and emotional relationship with the Indian Union, and a delayed return to full statehood risks further alienating a population that has already endured decades of conflict and instability. While the security situation has seen some improvements, and investments in development are visible, the restoration of statehood should not be treated merely as a reward for good behaviour or administrative success. It is a constitutional necessity and a democratic right. Moreover, as India continues to project itself as the world’s largest democracy, denying full democratic rights to the people of Jammu and Kashmir undermines that very claim. The “appropriate time” LG Sinha speaks of must now be defined not by political convenience but by democratic urgency.

It is time the Centre laid out a clear, time-bound roadmap for the restoration of statehood .Doing so will not only fulfil constitutional obligations but also help rebuild trust and faith among the people of Jammu and Kashmir—a trust that can only be restored through empowerment.