Congress on Friday moved swiftly to repudiate remarks by one of its senior figures that appeared to endorse a call from a ruling party legislator for carving out a separate state for Jammu, asserting that the party’s settled position remains the unity of Jammu and Kashmir and the restoration of full statehood to the region.The clarification followed comments attributed to Lal Singh, a former minister now aligned with the opposition benches, who said he would not object to the idea of a separate Jammu state after the issue was raised publicly by a legislator from the Bharatiya Janata Party. The remarks triggered sharp reactions within the opposition, particularly because they cut across the Congress party’s long-standing demand for the restoration of undivided statehood to Jammu and Kashmir as it existed before the 2019 reorganisation.
Tariq Karra, the Jammu and Kashmir Congress president, said the party had no connection with Lal Singh’s position and described it as a personal opinion that did not reflect Congress policy. Speaking to reporters, Karra stressed that the initial call for a separate Jammu state had come from BJP legislator Sham Lal Sharma and that Lal Singh’s response was his own. The party, Karra said, remained committed to the constitutional and political unity of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The initial statement on a separate Jammu state was made by BJP’s Sham Lal Sharma. When Lal Singh was asked about it, he said he had no objection. It is his personal view,” Karra said, underlining that Congress had neither endorsed nor debated any proposal for bifurcation within the region.
The episode has reopened a sensitive political fault line in Jammu and Kashmir, where questions of regional balance, identity and governance continue to shape electoral discourse. Calls for a separate Jammu state have surfaced intermittently over the decades, often gaining traction during periods of heightened political uncertainty or administrative change. Supporters of such ideas argue that Jammu has distinct political and developmental concerns, while critics say any further division would deepen regional polarisation and complicate an already fragile political landscape.
Congress leaders have been careful to draw a clear distinction between individual views and party policy, aware that ambiguity on territorial questions can carry heavy political costs in Jammu and Kashmir. Since the revocation of the region’s special status and its bifurcation into two Union Territories in August 2019, the party has consistently demanded the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir as a single political unit, alongside the holding of assembly elections.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has taken a different tack, emphasising administrative efficiency, development and security reforms under the Union Territory framework. While senior BJP leaders have not formally adopted the idea of a separate Jammu state, statements by individual legislators have periodically reignited the debate, forcing opposition parties to restate their positions.
Within Congress, the swift disavowal of Lal Singh’s comments also reflects internal sensitivities. The party has sought to project a united front on Jammu and Kashmir, particularly as it attempts to regain political ground after years of organisational weakness and limited electoral presence in the region. Any perception of internal division on a core issue such as territorial integrity risks undermining that effort.
Political analysts note that debates over Jammu’s status often intensify ahead of electoral milestones, as parties test narratives that resonate with specific regional constituencies. Jammu and the Kashmir Valley have different demographic profiles and political priorities, and rhetoric around statehood or separation can mobilise voters even when it lacks formal policy backing.
At the same time, there is broad consensus across much of the opposition spectrum that restoring statehood is a prerequisite for normalising political life in the region. This demand has featured prominently in statements from Congress and other regional parties, which argue that elected representation with full legislative powers is essential for addressing local grievances and rebuilding trust.
Lal Singh has not issued a detailed clarification following the Congress leadership’s rebuttal, but party insiders say there is little appetite for reopening internal debate on the issue. The emphasis, they add, is on maintaining message discipline as political activity gathers pace.