Omar Abdullah Meets Civil Society Before Proposed J&K Statehood Protest At Jantar Mantar

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday held discussions with civil society representatives in Srinagar ahead of the proposed Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) protest in New Delhi seeking the restoration of statehood. The meeting was aimed at gathering views from various sections of society and building wider support for the campaign.

Abdullah chaired an interactive session at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), which was attended by prominent members of civil society, intellectuals, religious leaders and public representatives from different parts of Jammu and Kashmir. The discussions focused on the demand for restoring statehood and the possible role of stakeholders in strengthening the movement.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister informed participants that the National Conference would organise a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20, coinciding with the opening day of the upcoming Parliament session. He said the demonstration would highlight the party’s demand for the restoration of statehood and urged people to contribute suggestions to shape a broader consensus on the issue.

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Abdullah also said he would personally write to stakeholders across Jammu and Kashmir, inviting them to participate in the campaign and share their perspectives. The initiative comes amid renewed political discussions over the future administrative status of Jammu and Kashmir following the changes introduced after the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganisation of the former state into a Union Territory.

The proposed protest has received support from some opposition leaders, with Srinagar-Budgam Lok Sabha MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, a National Conference dissident, stating that he would participate. However, Mehdi said his main demand would remain the restoration of Article 370. PDP president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has also expressed her intention to join the protest, while the National Conference has invited non-NDA parties to take part.

The planned demonstration has also drawn criticism from Apni Party president Syed Altaf Bukhari, who described it as a political move by the National Conference. Bukhari questioned the decision to hold the protest in New Delhi instead of Srinagar and said his party represented an alternative political platform in Jammu and Kashmir. The developments indicate continuing political debate among regional parties over statehood restoration and the broader demands concerning the region’s constitutional status.

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