J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
By Tehelka Web Desk
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the National Conference (NC) will go ahead with its planned sit-in protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on the first day of the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament to press for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, Abdullah said the party’s decision remains unchanged despite his recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
“There is no change in that plan. We are still fully committed to the one-day protest at Jantar Mantar at the beginning of the monsoon session to remind the Centre of the promise of statehood it has made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the Supreme Court, Parliament and in many public statements,” he said.
Abdullah had met Prime Minister Modi on June 11 and urged him to facilitate the early restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. He had also sought the Centre’s support for speeding up economic and infrastructure development in the Union Territory.
Referring to the meeting, the chief minister said the discussions focused on statehood, the financial situation of Jammu and Kashmir, and ways to accelerate the development process in the region.
“We discussed statehood, the financial position of Jammu and Kashmir and on how to expedite the development process in the Union Territory,” Abdullah said.
The NC has been demanding the restoration of statehood since Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised into a Union Territory in August 2019. The party has announced a one-day protest in Delhi to remind the Centre of its commitment on the issue.
