Dr Farooq, Omar lead protest in national capital; CM hires auto-rickshaw to reach venue, accuses Centre of reneging on promises; says statehood first, Assembly resolution on ‘special status’ next
New Delhi/Srinagar, Jul 20: Intensifying its campaign to seek restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, the ruling National Conference (NC) on Monday took its battle to New Delhi, with party president Dr Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah leading a protest at Jantar Mantar.
According to the details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), NC leaders accused the Centre of failing to honour commitments made in Parliament and before the Supreme Court following the 2019 reorganisation of the erstwhile state.
Similar demonstrations demanding restoration of statehood were held by NC workers across several districts of J&K, including Srinagar, Baramulla, Budgam, Bandipora, Kupwara and Kishtwar.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah briefly returned to Jammu earlier in the day to review relief and rescue operations following flash floods before flying back to Delhi to join the protest. He later marched towards Jantar Mantar carrying a placard reading, “Restore rights and dignity of J&K people.”
“The Central Government has forced us to come to Delhi and protest. For the past two years, we have only been reminding them to fulfill the promises made to the people in Parliament and the Supreme Court,” Omar told reporters as per KNO.
He said the Centre had repeatedly assured that statehood would be restored ‘at the appropriate time’ but had failed to define that timeline.
“The Supreme Court directed that statehood be restored at the earliest after the Assembly elections. If the government has no intention of restoring statehood, it should say so openly. Then we will decide our future course of action. But repeatedly saying ‘at the appropriate time’ without explaining what that means is unacceptable,” he said.
Reiterating that the National Conference remained committed to its larger political agenda, CM Omar said the party would continue to pursue restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional rights.
“In the first Assembly session, we passed a resolution on Jammu and Kashmir’s special position, special status and constitutional rights. We are not leaving that agenda,” he said.
“The purpose of today’s protest is to remind the Central Government of its promise. Everything will start from there—first statehood, then the resolution passed by the Assembly,” Omar added.
He alleged that the party was prevented from holding a peaceful protest.
“We came to our country’s capital to claim our rights. Unfortunately, we were not even allowed to hold a peaceful protest. Democracy is being strangled,” he said.
He alleged that NC leaders and workers were stopped from reaching Jantar Mantar and later prevented from proceeding to the Constitution Club to continue their programme.
CM Omar alleged that tear gas was used during the protest. “Tear gas was also aimed at us. It is unfortunate. Young boys and girls from across the country had gathered only to seek justice, yet they too faced tear gas,” he said, referring to students protesting over the NEET issue.
Later, CM Omar, who reached the protest venue in an auto-rickshaw after security restrictions disrupted his movement, wrote on X: “My walk from Jantar Mantar was about to turn into another procession so we grabbed the first available means of transport.”
“We were stopped from getting to Jantar Mantar and 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 posted.
National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah said the protest was aimed at reminding the Union Government of its promise to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
“Today, we are fighting for full statehood, which is a promise made by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister in Parliament, before the Supreme Court and to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We are here simply to remind them of that promise,” Farooq said.
He also extended support to students protesting over the NEET issue.
“These children are the future of India. They are demanding their rights, and we stand with them. The Government of India should pay attention to their concerns. At the same time, it should also address the issues of Ladakh. Sonam Wangchuk should be released from the hospital,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary termed it unfortunate that an elected government from Jammu and Kashmir had to protest in Delhi for restoration of statehood.
“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 that statehood would be restored after the Assembly elections. This is a promise that must now be fulfilled,” he said.
The protest was also attended by Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra and senior Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir. CPI(M) MLA M Y Tarigami who was not present in the protest, later addressing press in Srinagar said the protest was meant to convey to the Centre that there had been a “breach of trust” with the people of Jammu and Kashmir over the delay in restoring statehood.
Throughout the day, NC leaders and workers raised slogans demanding restoration of full statehood while carrying placards reading “Restore Rights and Dignity of the People of J&K” and “We Want Statehood.”
The protest marked the first major political demonstration by the ruling National Conference in the national capital since assuming office after 2024 Assembly elections. (KNO)
