SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) has directed all its Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Members of Parliament (MPs) to reach New Delhi by July 19 to participate in the party’s proposed protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20, aimed at pressing for the restoration of statehood to the Union Territory.
According to party directions, all legislators have been instructed to ensure their presence in the national capital without waiting for formal permission or any further communication from the leadership.
The protest, announced by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and NC Vice President Omar Abdullah, will coincide with the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session. The party has said the demonstration marks an escalation of its campaign for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
Speaking recently at Hazratbal, Omar Abdullah said the National Conference had pursued the issue through dialogue with the Centre for nearly two years but had decided to adopt a democratic and peaceful protest after the promise of restoring statehood remained unfulfilled.
NC President Farooq Abdullah has invited 52 political leaders from across the country to join the protest in an effort to build wider political support for the demand.
Those invited include Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby, CPI General Secretary D. Raja, Kapil Sibal, BSP chief Mayawati, BRS president K. Chandrashekar Rao, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari, JK Congress president G.A. Mir, JK BJP president Sat Sharma, Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JK Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam.
Party sources said the sit-in is expected to be attended by senior NC leaders, legislators, parliamentarians, party workers and invited political leaders, who will seek the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood in line with the Centre’s earlier commitments.
The proposed protest has also triggered political reactions. CPI(M) has extended support to the demonstration, while Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has urged the NC to broaden its agenda to include the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, along with the release of political prisoners. NC MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has announced that he will not participate, saying the public mandate was primarily for the restoration of Article 370 rather than statehood alone.
Meanwhile, Omar Abdullah has alleged delays in obtaining administrative permission from the Delhi authorities for the protest, claiming attempts were being made to obstruct the programme. The BJP has dismissed the planned demonstration as a diversionary exercise intended to shift attention from the performance of the NC-led government. -(KL)
