Stepping up its stir against the BJP led NDA government over statehood for J&K issue, the Congress party today said Centre is “cheating the people of Jammu and Kashmir” by not fulfilling its own word with regard to restoration of this status of the of the region post the abrogation of Article 370.
In accordance with its already planned programme, upon reaching the national capital the J&K the Congress along with some senior leaders in Delhi today staged protest against the Central government and raised the demand vociferously amid slogans in support of the demand. Congress leader and party’s general secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal, while participating in the protest at Jantar Mantar, said that the Centre is going back on its word after promising statehood to the region.
“The government of India is cheating the people of Jammu Kashmir. They have already promised statehood for Jammu Kashmir, which they are not doing at all. We heard about a Union Territory becoming a state, we have never heard of a state becoming a Union Territory. They have done so much injustice to the people of J-K,” Venugopal said amid sloganeering by party workers.“The people have come from from different parts of JK, they came with difficulty. Indian National Congress solidly stands with the people of J-K,” he added.
Defying bad weather, amid persistent rainfall in the national capital, the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) leaders converged at the protest site to give further push to fulfilment of the demand.
Organised under the party’s “Delhi Chalo” programme, the protest was spearheaded by JKPCC President Tariq Hameed Karra and drew participation from Congress leaders and workers representing diverse districts of the Union Territory. Defying wet weather and humid conditions, the protestors gathered in large numbers, holding placards and chanting slogans urging the Union Government to fulfil its commitment to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Karra was joined by senior Congress leaders including Vikar Rasool Wani, Raman Bhalla, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, and others who echoed the demand, describing the continuing delay in restoring statehood as a deliberate attempt to politically disempower the region.
The protest also served as a symbolic reminder of the Centre’s August 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370 and bifurcate the erstwhile state into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Since then, demands for the restoration of statehood have grown steadily, cutting across political lines.
“While the Centre has on multiple occasions assured that statehood will be restored “at an appropriate time,” Karra said that the prolonged delay reflects a lack of political will.
Congress functionaries present at Jantar Mantar accused the BJP-led government of failing to honour its word. “This is not just about statehood. It’s about identity, representation, and accountability,” said Ghulam Ahmad Mir.The JKPCC has vowed to continue raising the issue both within and outside Parliament. “We will amplify this demand through every democratic platform available to us,” Karra added.
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