Srinagar, Aug. 9 -- The demand for the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is no longer just the National Conference's (NC) demand. While the INDIA block stands united on this, senior voices within the BJP also acknowledge that the time is ripe for J&K's statehood," Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Rajya Sabha MP and House Leader of the NC, told Hindustan Times in an interview. Edited excerpts: On Wednesday, we held a protest to mark August 5, 2019. On this day, our special status was abrogated along with our constitutional rights. Our state was downgraded to a UT. This is the first time in India where a state has been downgraded to a UT, while UTs are usually upgraded to states.In the 17th century, J&K was a powerful kingdom under Yousuf Shah Chak, who twice defeated the Mughals. Today, it has been reduced from a state to a union territory. We reminded the Centre to honour its promise and restore statehood. The INDIA block partners, of which Congress is a major party along with TMC, CPI, CPI(M), Samajwadi Party and other constituents, supported us. Before August 5, I wrote to all the alliance constituents seeking their support and conveyed to them how August 5 was a "black day" for us. They agreed that this was a genuine demand and assured support. They all joined us in our protest. I would like to thank them, on behalf of my party president Farooq Abdullah and CM Omar Abdullah, for their support inside and outside the Parliament. There is no reason to deny our statehood now. The Union home minister in his speech gave three reasons for the abrogation of Article 370: first, militancy would end; second, large investments would come; and third, Kashmiri Pandits would return to their homes. None of these have proved correct. Militancy is still here. An attack like the one in Pahalgam had never happened before in our history. It badly tarnished the image of Kashmir, and the Kashmiri people had to face the repercussions. If ending militancy was the goal, why are such incidents still taking place? I strongly believe that if a political government had been at the helm of affairs, such things would never have taken place. Maybe talks are going on. In the BJP, there are many senior leaders who say the time is ripe for the return of J&K's statehood. In private conversations, many BJP leaders tell us that the moment is perfect for the return of statehood to J&K. All opposition parties support the restoration of statehood. When I spoke in the Parliament earlier this week about statehood, some BJP members came and met me outside and said they were very happy that I raised this, and that it is a genuine demand. Every party other than the NC has been rejected by the people of J&K in the assembly elections. NC secured a majority and our party is pursuing statehood and Article 370 at every forum and level. We have never been silent on statehood and Article 370. It was also in our manifesto. Our UT doesn't have many resources, but things are happening step by step. When we came to power, we didn't have money to pay salaries. Our CM then met the Union finance minister and got additional funds for salaries. Ours is a resource-challenged region. Still, we have three and a half years left. What we promised in our manifesto will be done before our current term ends. On reservation, the CM formed a cabinet sub-committee which submitted its report. The cabinet approved it and sent it to the LG. We are waiting for approval; only then can it be implemented. He is still part of the NC as he has not given his resignation from the party. I don't think Sajjad has done any big work in Handwara. Under him, Handwara neither got new roads, water supply schemes, nor big developmental projects. Last time he became the assembly member by default, as some officers played a crucial role in his victory, and that too by a few hundred votes. Bilal shunning separatist politics and joining mainstream politics is a welcome step. However, he still has to answer the public about those who were killed in the name of separatist politics. Even while in the separatist camp, Bilal always used to help his brother during elections. For the NC, he is not a threat, as we know their politics at every level....