NC to protest over statehood demand in New Delhi

Srinagar, Jun 3: The National Conference on Wednesday announced it will hold a protest in New Delhi on the first day of Parliament’s upcoming Monsoon Session, pressing for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and constitutional guarantees.
The decision was taken during a crucial meeting of the party leadership, ministers, and legislators chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at Dachigam National Park.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, MLA Tanvir Sadiq, said the National Conference Legislature Party held detailed discussions on political and developmental issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the party would stage a protest at Jantar Mantar or another designated venue in Delhi on the opening day of the Monsoon Session.
“The National Conference has decided that on the first day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session, we will hold a protest in Delhi over the demand for restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees,” Sadiq said.
He emphasized that restoration of statehood remains the party’s “core and rightful demand,” describing it as a constitutional guarantee of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The time has now come to seek back what has been taken away from us,” he added.
Meanwhile, senior party leader and minister Javed Rana said that the party would reach out to political parties across Jammu and Kashmir and seek their participation in the programme.
“We will invite all political parties from Jammu and Kashmir to join the protest. The issue of statehood concerns every citizen of the Union Territory and goes beyond party lines,” he said.
Rana said the party leadership believes the time has come for a renewed push on the issue and expressed hope that all stakeholders would support the demand. (KNO, KNS)