Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated Friday night that statehood will be restored to Jammu and Kashmir as pledged, though he stopped short of offering a specific timeline.

Speaking at the Times Now Summit 2025, Shah emphasized the peaceful conduct of last year’s assembly elections as a milestone, signaling progress in the region since the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, which split the former state into two Union Territories.

“We’ve assured statehood will return. From day one, we’ve said it will happen, but I can’t announce the exact timing in a public forum,” Shah responded when pressed on a schedule.

In 2019, during the parliamentary debate on Article 370’s revocation, he had promised statehood restoration “at an appropriate time,” a commitment he doubled down on now.

Highlighting the recent elections, Shah noted, “This was the first vote in Kashmir in 40 years with no re-polling anywhere. No tear gas, no bullets—60% turnout. That’s a massive shift.”

The remarks underscore the Centre’s narrative of stability in J-K, though the lack of a concrete date keeps the statehood question open, fueling anticipation among residents and observers alike.