NC leader Tanvir Sadiq
By Tehelka Web Desk
The ruling National Conference (NC) on Thursday said it has invited Kashmir’s chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, along with the Grand Mufti of Kashmir and leaders of all political parties, including the BJP, to join its proposed protest in New Delhi seeking the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The party has announced a sit-in at Jantar Mantar on July 20, the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, to press the Centre to fulfil its commitment to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
The invitation to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been extended in his capacity as the head of the Muthaida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU), an umbrella organisation representing several religious bodies in Kashmir. The NC has also invited Grand Mufti of Kashmir, Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam.
“Apart from the political parties, the National Conference has invited Mirwaiz sahab, who is chief of the Muthaida Majlis-e-Ulema, and Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, the Grand Mufti of Kashmir,” said NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq.
Sadiq said the party had reached out to all political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, including the BJP, to participate in the demonstration.
“We have invited the president of Jammu and Kashmir BJP, as well as the heads of other political parties, including Mehbooba Mufti of the Peoples Democratic Party and Altaf Bukhari of the Apni Party,” he said.
He added that most of the invitations had already been sent, while the remaining ones were in the process of being dispatched.
The outreach marks a rare attempt by the National Conference to bring together mainstream political parties and influential religious leaders on a common platform to demand the restoration of statehood, which was revoked after Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised into a Union Territory in August 2019.
