Srinagar, July 16: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Professor Saifuddin Soz has said that the political focus in Jammu and Kashmir should remain on the restoration of Article 370 and internal autonomy, rather than being limited to the demand for statehood.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Soz said the National Conference should not devote all its political attention to the statehood issue, arguing that Jammu and Kashmir would eventually regain its state status.

“Statehood is not the core issue. Jammu and Kashmir cannot remain a Union Territory permanently,” he said.

The veteran Congress leader described the restoration of Article 370 and the constitutional autonomy enjoyed by Jammu and Kashmir before August 2019 as the more significant political concern.

According to Soz, the political struggle should primarily focus on restoring the region's internal autonomy and its earlier constitutional safeguards.

His comments come amid the National Conference's intensified campaign for the restoration of statehood and its announcement of a protest in New Delhi against the Centre's position on the issue.

While reiterating his support for the restoration of statehood, Soz said greater political attention should also be given to the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's constitutional safeguards and its earlier special constitutional position.