Srinagar: While many people have suffered because of the partition of 1947, the people of Kashmir have paid the highest price, Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan told reporters here after attending an event at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC).
Khan said the delay in restoring J&K’s statehood was “indeed regrettable”. He said Kashmir had faced “difficult times”, but insisted that peace and normalcy must precede any political transition.
Speaking to the media, as per the news agency KNO, Khan said the desire to restore statehood is shared by both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India, but such a transition must come through a sustainable and inclusive process.
“It is unfortunate that Kashmir had to endure such painful situations. The Prime Minister and the people of India share a collective hope to see Jammu and Kashmir regain its statehood, but that must come through a structured and sustainable mechanism,” he said.
Khan said that statehood to J&K will be meaningful only when backed by institutional stability, economic progress and public confidence. “It is not about haste but about building a strong foundation for the future through collective responsibility, transparent governance and trust between the people and the state,” he said.
He said that institutional strength and administrative integrity are crucial for ensuring that peace and development take deep root. “Unless institutional mechanisms are established and strengthened, divisions and the atmosphere of mistrust could persist,” he said.
Reflecting on India’s post-Partition experience, the Bihar Governor said the country’s strength lies in its diversity, but governance must ensure equality and justice for all. “Maulana Azad once described the time after Partition as one when different communities coexisted despite differences, but those differences turned into divides. Unless we correct that through governance, such divides will keep reappearing,” he said.
He added that normalcy must be established so that the rule of law functions here just as it does elsewhere. It is a collective effort between you and us, he said.
Governor Khan said PM Modi’s vision for Jammu and Kashmir is centered on peace, empowerment and inclusion. “The Prime Minister wants Kashmir to have the autonomy to decide for itself, but in a way that ensures long-term stability and confidence,” he said.
Describing his emotional connection to the region, he said, “Kashmir is the crown of India. Those who seek true knowledge must walk a few steps towards Kashmir, as it is the cradle of wisdom, intellect and culture.”
