By Tehelka Web Desk
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday led a National Conference (NC) protest in Delhi demanding the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, saying the campaign marked the beginning of a broader struggle for the rights and dignity of the people.
Abdullah, who had briefly returned to Jammu to monitor relief and rescue operations following flash floods, flew back to Delhi to join party leaders and legislators protesting outside JK House after they were prevented from reaching Jantar Mantar.
In a post on X, Abdullah said the protesters had been stopped from holding a peaceful demonstration but would continue their campaign.
“We were stopped from getting to Jantar Mantar & stopped from protesting peacefully for what is rightfully ours but we were not silenced. This is only the beginning of our struggle for statehood, our rights, our dignity and everything that was taken away from us,” he wrote.
The protest was attended by NC president Farooq Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and other party leaders, who carried placards demanding the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing reporters, Farooq Abdullah said the protest was aimed at reminding the Centre of its commitment to restore statehood.
“Today, we are fighting for full statehood, which is a promise made by Prime Minister Modi and the Home Minister, both in the Parliament, before the Supreme Court, and to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We are protesting here today simply to remind them of that commitment and to demand the restoration of complete statehood,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had been compelled to protest in the national capital to seek fulfilment of the Centre’s promise.
“It is a matter of misfortune for the people of Jammu and Kashmir that they are forced to stage a protest in Delhi today. We are here to remind the Prime Minister and the Home Minister of the promise they made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir—that statehood would be restored post-elections (Assembly), yet the Union government has failed to honour its commitment,” he said.
The NC has been pressing for the restoration of statehood since Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
