Farooq Abdullah to Lead Protest for Statehood Restoration in Jammu and Kashmir

Farooq Abdullah, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), is set to lead a protest in New Delhi on Monday, advocating for the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. This comes as current Chief Minister Omar Abdullah shortens his visit to Delhi due to the devastating floods that have claimed 12 lives in the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri.

 

Omar Abdullah announced on X that he would fly back to Jammu this afternoon to assess the situation firsthand, considering the weather department's warnings and the severe conditions developing in parts of the Jammu division. The planned protest for statehood restoration will proceed under the leadership of Dr. Farooq Abdullah. Following Omar's announcement, Sajjad Lone, president of the opposition party People's Conference and an MLA, made a sarcastic post on X, stating, "Papa will protest in Delhi while Baba behaves like a good boy in Jammu."

 

In response to Lone's remarks, NC spokesperson and close aide to the Chief Minister, Tanveer Sadiq, emphasized that if one politicizes the Chief Minister's decision to stand with those affected by the sudden floods and the grief of losing loved ones, they have forgotten basic humanity. He stated that restoring statehood is a collective responsibility, and the Chief Minister has led this fight. However, as the head of the government, it is equally important for him to stand with those impacted during difficult times. Politics should never be played over the deceased. That is the end of the matter.

 

The National Conference has announced a protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20, the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, to demand the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood from the central government. However, the party has yet to receive approval from the Delhi government for this demonstration. The NC has invited 56 leaders from across the country, including the Congress president and leaders from other political parties.

 

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