Karan Singh calls for restoration of J&K's statehood, says UT status diminution of 'crown of India'

Karan Singh demands restoration of Jammu and Kashmir statehood, criticises current status, and advocates for domiciliary laws.

Senior Congress leader and veteran politician Karan Singh has demanded the immediate restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and said that the current status of the region is an "unacceptable" diminution of the "crown of India".

In a recent interview to PTI Videos, Mr. Singh, a three-time Rajya Sabha MP and Sadr-i-Riyasat (constitutional head) of the erstwhile state, also voiced his concerns over the changes following the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution.

He noted that before this constitutional change, the entire debate used to revolve around how much autonomy was to be accorded to the state.

"The whole game has changed after the abrogation of (Article) 370," Mr. Singh said.

He said Jammu and Kashmir's transition to a union territory is a diminution of the erstwhile state and it is "unacceptable".

Mr. Singh noted that a former Indian ambassador to the U.S. said that the current status of Jammu and Kashmir has put it behind states like Himachal Pradesh and Haryana in terms of governance efficiency.

"(Hum) toh mukut hai Hindustan ke (We are the crown of India)," he said.