After Massive Jammu Rally, NC Takes Statehood Battle to Delhi; Omar Leads Intensified Campaign for Restoration of J&K Statehood

POONCH TODAY NEWS

JAMMU: Buoyed by the overwhelming response to its massive Statehood Rally held in Jammu on Sunday, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) has announced a major protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, intensifying its campaign for the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

The party has termed the Delhi demonstration as the next phase of its democratic movement to remind the union government of its repeated commitment to restore statehood. The announcement comes just days after thousands of NC workers and supporters gathered in Jammu, where Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, ministers, legislators, and senior leaders strongly reiterated that the restoration of statehood remains the party’s foremost political priority. Addressing the gathering in Jammu, Omar Abdullah emphasised that the demand for statehood is linked to the democratic aspirations and constitutional rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He urged the centre to honour its commitment and restore the constitutional status promised to the people. Omar reiterated that the National Conference would continue to pursue the issue through peaceful and democratic means. He maintained that the party’s struggle for statehood would continue until Jammu and Kashmir regains its full constitutional status. He appealed to party workers to remain united and strengthen the democratic movement. Following the successful Jammu rally, the National Conference has now decided to take the issue to the national capital. Senior party leaders said the proposed protest at Jantar Mantar will witness the participation of legislators, ministers, district presidents, office bearers, youth leaders, and workers from across Jammu and Kashmir. The party leadership said the demonstration would be peaceful and conducted within the framework of the Constitution. Despite facing tough moments after the death of Dr Mustafa Kamal, CM Omar Abdullah is likely to attend the Jantar Mantar protest as per the pre-decided schedule. According to NC leaders, the objective is to draw the attention of the union government and the nation towards the long-pending demand for the restoration of statehood, which they describe as essential for strengthening democratic governance and ensuring greater administrative accountability. The centre has, on several occasions, stated that statehood to Jammu and Kashmir will be restored at an appropriate time after the completion of the ongoing democratic process. However, the absence of a definite timeline has continued to remain a major political issue, prompting regional parties, particularly the National Conference, to intensify their campaign. Political observers believe the NC’s decision to follow the Jammu rally with a protest at Jantar Mantar reflects the party’s strategy of keeping the issue of statehood at the centre of national political discourse. The move is expected to draw the attention of political parties, constitutional experts, and civil society groups from across the country. Party leaders have appealed to workers from both the Jammu and Kashmir regions to participate in the Delhi protest in large numbers while maintaining discipline and the peaceful character of the demonstration. They said the movement is aimed at securing what they describe as a long-awaited democratic commitment. With Sunday’s show of strength in Jammu setting the tone for the next phase of the campaign, the National Conference has made it clear that its demand for the restoration of statehood will remain at the forefront of its political agenda. All eyes are now on the proposed Jantar Mantar protest, which is expected to emerge as one of the party’s biggest political mobilisations on the issue in the national capital.