Congress to Join Omar Abdullah's Protest for Jammu and Kashmir's Statehood

The Congress on Friday announced that it will join the National Conference's protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20 demanding the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. The demonstration, called by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has also been opened to members of the INDIA bloc and other opposition parties. The protest is expected to bring together several political leaders seeking the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood, which was revoked in August 2019 following the reorganisation of the former state into two Union Territories.

Jammu and Kashmir Congress President Tariq Hamid Karra confirmed that the party would participate in the demonstration and said members of the Congress central leadership are also expected to attend. However, he said it remains uncertain whether senior leaders such as Rahul Gandhi will be present. According to Karra, the National Conference has extended invitations to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to participate in the protest.

While acknowledging that the National Conference had not joined earlier Congress-led demonstrations on the issue, Karra said the Congress would support the July 20 protest in the interest of restoring Jammu and Kashmir's statehood. He reiterated that the party has consistently advocated the reinstatement of full statehood and expressed solidarity with the National Conference's campaign on the matter. Congress leaders said the issue transcends political differences and concerns the constitutional and democratic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Also Read: J&K CM Omar Abdullah To Hold Delhi Protest Seeking Statehood Restoration

Congress General Secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir said the party has opposed the Centre's decision of August 5, 2019, from the outset and has consistently demanded the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood. He noted that the Congress has been running a campaign under the slogan "Our State is Our Right" over the past year and described the planned protest as an extension of that movement. According to Mir, the party will continue supporting initiatives aimed at restoring the region's previous constitutional status.

Ahead of the protest, the Congress also sought to expand the political debate by advocating what it calls "Statehood Plus." Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera said the party's position goes beyond restoring statehood alone and includes constitutional safeguards for land ownership and employment rights. Former Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief Saifuddin Soz has also called for internal autonomy for the erstwhile state, arguing that additional constitutional protections are necessary alongside the restoration of statehood.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has written to leaders of the INDIA bloc as well as several non-NDA parties, inviting them to participate in the protest at Jantar Mantar. Omar Abdullah has said he will personally lead the demonstration, which aims to renew political pressure on the Centre to restore Jammu and Kashmir's statehood. The protest is expected to become a significant gathering of opposition parties seeking to present a united stand on the constitutional and political future of the Union Territory.

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