The delimitation exercise is in progress and statehood will soon be restored to Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday.

“Delimitation exercise has started. Once it is completed, elections will be conducted and full statehood will be restored to J&K,” Shah said virtually at the launch of Good Governance Index here.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha attended the event.

“As I have already assured the Lok Sabha, once the situation is normal, elections will be conducted and statehood will be restored in J&K,” Shah said.

“I also want to appeal to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the youth of the Kashmir Valley, to be a part of the ongoing developmental and democratic process initiated under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.

“Development can take place only through a democratic set-up,” he said. “I also want to appeal to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir not to fall into the trap of false propaganda launched by some people with vested interests.

“Have faith in the Prime Minister and the Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor under whose leadership development is reaching every citizen in the Union Territory,” he said.

He said the Good Governance Index will make working in districts more efficient and transparent.

Lashing out at opposition parties but without naming them, Shah said: “The Jammu and Kashmir of 2019, which earlier was ruled by three families, is now witnessing ground level development in which 30,000 representatives are engaged at panchayat level.

“When the public gets good governance, people themselves join the path of development,” he said, and assured a corruption-free government in Jammu and Kashmir.

“In the last three years, the budget of Jammu and Kashmir has been enhanced from Rs 9,000 crores to Rs 21,000 crores.”