Srinagar, Sept. 22 -- The issue of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood emerged on the first day of the autumn session of the Union Territory Assembly on Monday, as the ruling alliance pressed for its immediate restoration.

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather opened the session by paying tribute to late National Conference leader Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, late Congress leader Dharam Paul, and late PDP leader Ghulam Hassan Khan.

Sheikh Mustafa Kamal served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for three terms, while Dharam Paul served four terms, and Ghulam Hassan Khan was an MLA for one term.

These three leaders passed away between the previous session of the assembly and the current session.

The house observed a two-minute silence to pay res...