J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
By Tehelka Web Desk
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said the National Conference (NC) is still awaiting permission from the Delhi authorities to hold its proposed protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20, accusing some people of trying to disrupt the party’s campaign for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
The planned sit-in protest is scheduled to coincide with the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session and is part of the NC’s campaign urging the Centre to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function, Omar said the party had applied for permission several days ago but had not yet received a response.
“On July 20, a programme is to take place, if we get permission for it. We are trying to get the permission,” he said.
Without naming anyone, the chief minister alleged that efforts were being made to obstruct the programme.
“We have been trying for four-five days. Some people are engaged in sabotaging our programme. They have changed their dates and matched them with our dates,” he said.
Referring to another organisation’s protest, Omar said it had reportedly received permission within 24 hours, while the NC had been waiting for four to five days for approval.
The protest is part of the NC’s renewed push for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, which was revoked after the erstwhile state was reorganised into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in August 2019.
The party has invited leaders from several political parties and organisations across the country to participate in the July 20 demonstration. Invitations have also been extended to leaders from Jammu and Kashmir across the political spectrum, as well as religious representatives.
The outreach follows a recent meeting convened by the National Conference in Srinagar, where civil society representatives adopted a resolution calling for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. The party has said the demand goes beyond political differences and concerns the democratic rights of the people of the region.
