Srinagar, Jul 20: In one of the National Conference’s biggest political mobilisations outside Jammu & Kashmir in recent years, party president Dr Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday led a massive protest in New Delhi, demanding the immediate restoration of statehood to the Union Territory. The party accused the Centre of reneging on its repeated commitments.
The protest witnessed the participation of senior NC leaders, Cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, MLAs, district functionaries and hundreds of party workers who travelled from J&K to the national capital. The demonstration was organised to remind the Union Government of the assurances it had made in Parliament and before the Supreme Court regarding the restoration of J&K statehood.
Adding symbolism to the protest, CM Omar was accompanied by his two sons, Zahir Abdullah and Zamir Abdullah, while he wore a black T-shirt emblazoned with the slogans “Restore Statehood” and “Restore J&K’s Dignity”. Party workers waved National Conference flags and carried placards demanding the restoration of democratic rights and full statehood.
Speaking to reporters, Dr Farooq Abdullah said the National Conference had come to the national capital to remind Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of the promise they had made to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
“We are here to remind Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of the commitment they made to the people of J&K. They have made a commitment that statehood would be restored after the delimitation exercise and Assembly elections,” the 90-year-old veteran politician said. “Delimitation has been completed, the elections have been held, and an elected government is in place. Now the time has come for the Government of India to fulfil its promise and restore J&K’s statehood.”
He said the people of J&K had waited patiently for the Centre to act, but the continued delay had compelled the party to launch a democratic protest in the national capital.
Calling the protest a democratic reminder rather than a confrontation, Dr Farooq said the Centre must honour the commitment it had repeatedly made before the people of J&K.
Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo, who also joined the protest, said today’s demonstration marks only the beginning of the National Conference’s campaign for the restoration of statehood.
“This is just the beginning. Our fight for the restoration of J&K statehood will only intensify in the coming days. We will continue to raise our voice democratically until the Centre fulfils the promise it made to the people. We are united in this demand, and we will not rest until statehood is restored,” Itoo said.
Despite the scorching heat and humid conditions in the national capital, the protest witnessed the participation of Cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, MLAs, senior party functionaries and hundreds of workers, who raised slogans demanding the immediate restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and full democratic rights. Party leaders asserted that the campaign would continue to gather momentum until the Centre honoured its commitment, signalling that Monday’s demonstration was only the beginning of a sustained movement for the restoration of statehood.
