Congress Accuses BJP of Betraying Promise to Restore Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Launches ‘Delhi Chalo’ March

Tariq Hameed Karra

Congress on Monday said that BJP had committed to granting statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and that ten months have passed, but the Narendra Modi government has not taken any steps in that direction.

Jammu-Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra told ANI, “For the past six months, we have been demanding ‘Our State, Our Right.’ We have spoken about this in all districts of Jammu and Kashmir. After that, we called for ‘Srinagar Chalo’, and today we have called for ‘Delhi Chalo’, under which we are marching towards Delhi. 233 MPs of the INDIA (alliance) are with us, and our alliance partners will also support us.”

Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir told ANI that they will go to Delhi to remind the Centre government about its promise of granting statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

“Today, we are going to Delhi regarding a special issue. The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee has organised the ‘Our State, Our Right’ programme in every corner of Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP had committed to the reorganisation, followed by delimitation, elections, and subsequently granting statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Ten months have passed, but the Modi government has not taken any steps in that direction. In such a situation, Congress is fulfilling its duty, and we are going on behalf of the people to remind the Prime Minister and the government to fulfil their promise,” he told ANI.

In August 2019, the Central government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, repealed Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, effectively ending the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating the state into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The restoration of statehood has been a key demand from the regional political parties in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganisation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories in August 2019. (ANI)

Delhi Chalo: Congress Launches Massive Statehood Protest for J&K with Marches to Raj Bhawans and Parliament Gherao

Delhi Chalo

Congress on Thursday announced a massive intensification of its struggle for statehood movement by declaring to hold protest march to Raj Bhawan in Srinagar on July 19th and to Rajbhawan Jammu on 20th July followed by Delhi Chalo Call on 21st for Parliament Gherao / March on 22nd July in New Delhi.

Addressing a crowded Press conference here today, JKPCC President Tariq Hameed Karra, announced the schedule of protests to intensify the statehood movement of the party in the wake of letter of the Congress President and LOP in Rajya Sabha Malikarjun Kharge and LOP Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to the Prime Minister seeking presentation of bill for restoration of statehood in the Monsoon session itself for the restoration of complete statehood.

Expressing gratitude to the Congress President and LOP Lok Sabha for raising the demand of the people of J&K with the Prime Minister for fulfilling the overdue promise with the people, Karra said that party shall organize a march to Raj Bhawan at Srinagar on July 19th and another march in Jammu to Rajbhawan on July 20th and undertake a journey through buses to Delhi on 21st to hold a protest Dharna and March to Parliament on July 22nd.

Flanked by Senior congress leaders  Raman Bhalla, Ch. Lal Singh, Mula Ram, Th. Balwan Singh, Ravinder Sharma, Yogesh Sawhney, Th. Balbir Singh and others Shri Karra said that for nine months past Assembly elections, congress party is carrying on the mission “Hamari Riyasat, Hamar Haq” as it is the basic right of our people as dual control system is worst , as reflected in the incident of manhandling of Chief Minister on July 14. He said that our state was disbanded and downgraded into UT arbitrarily and undemocratically on August 5, 2019 and it is almost six years now but the people are deprived of this right and identity.

He said that we shall press for the presentation & passing of the bill in this session of Parliament for the restoration of complete statehood and sought the cooperation of all walks of people for the most important and legitimate demand of people of Jammu and Kashmir.

PCC President Tariq Hameed Karra shall himself lead the Delhi Chalo programme in the buses to move from Jammu on July 21st afternoon. The senior leaders, former Ministers/MLAs/Ex-Legislators, DFCC Presidents and other important leaders shall take part in this Yatra. He said that Congress movement for statehood has the full backing & support of entire INDIA Block MPs numbering 233 MPs.