NEW DELHI: Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling for the immediate restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. In a joint letter, they described the demand as a “legitimate” and “constitutional” aspiration of the people.“This demand is both legitimate and firmly grounded in their constitutional and democratic rights. It is important to recognise that while there have been instances of Union Territories being granted statehood in the past, the case of Jammu and Kashmir is without precedent in independent India. This is the first time a full-fledged state has been downgraded to a Union Territory following its bifurcation,” the letter read.The Congress leaders reminded the Prime Minister of his repeated promises to restore statehood, including public statements made in Bhubaneswar in May 2024 and at a rally in Srinagar in September the same year.The letter also referred to the government’s assurances before the Supreme Court during hearings on Article 370, in which it pledged to reinstate statehood “at the earliest and as soon as possible.”In addition to demanding legislation for Jammu and Kashmir, the letter urged the Centre to bring forward a bill to include Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. “This would be a significant step towards addressing the cultural, developmental, and political aspirations of the people of Ladakh, while safeguarding their rights, land, and identity,” it stated.The letter comes ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which begins July 21.