Congress to hold protest in Srinagar for J&K statehood restoration
The party said that J&K Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra, along with AICC general secretary G.A. Mir and other senior leaders, will lead a peaceful procession around noon in Srinagar to reiterate the demand for the complete restoration of statehood to J&K.
The march will start from Congress headquarters in Srinagar and culminate at the divisional commissioner's office, where senior party leaders will submit a memorandum to the Divisional Commissioner for onward submission to the Prime Minister through Lt Governor of J&K, a Congress spokesman said.
The protest will not be limited to Srinagar, but Congress is planning to hold protests in Jammu, and a sit-in at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on July 22, a day after the Monsoon Session of Parliament begins.
'The campaign for the restoration of statehood has been ongoing for several months, and the joint letters from the party's top leadership have injected fresh momentum into the movement,' a senior leader said.
Kharge and Rahul Gandhi's appeal to the Prime Minister to introduce legislation for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament has sparked a fresh wave of optimism among politicians in the region.
Jammu and Kashmir was stripped of its special status and downgraded to a Union Territory on August 5, 2019, following the abrogation of Article 370. Since then, political parties have consistently been demanding restoration of statehood.
In a joint letter, the Congress leaders said that downgrading a state to a Union territory lacks precedent in independent India and reminded the Prime Minister of his promises of restoring J&K's statehood.
The Prime Minister has "on multiple occasions, personally reiterated the government's commitment to restoring statehood," the letter read, pointing out at least two instances last year when PM Modi promised to restore the region's status.
For the past five years, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have consistently called for the restoration of full statehood, the Congress leaders said, calling their demand both legitimate and firmly grounded in their constitutional and democratic rights.
UNI MJR AAB
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
a minute ago
- The Hindu
I do not expect BJP to come to a public debate on development works in Karnataka: CM
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he does not expect the BJP leaders to come to a public debate on the development works in the State, in response to his invitation. When asked if he expected the BJP leaders to take part in a debate, Mr. Siddaramaiah said he had invited them several times earlier also. 'People who lie do not come,' he said, dubbing the BJP leaders as 'liars'. However, the Chief Minister said he was ready to participate in the debate if the BJP leaders came forward. The Congress government organised a convention in Vijayanagar earlier this year to mark two years of its rule in the State, he said, adding that the 'BJP's lies' about the State government were exposed with more than two lakh people participating in the programme. The State government was spending ₹52,000 crore every year on the guarantee programmes. He said the BJP, which criticises the State government, had copied its guarantee programmes in other States. GST WOES OF SMALL TRADERS With regard to complaints of small traders receiving notices from the Commercial Taxes Department for transactions through UPI, Mr. Siddaramaiah said his government will discuss the matter with the Centre and the department and will make a decision. He said Goods and Sales Tax (GST) Council does not come under the State government. However, the government will take up the matter with the Union government and discuss it with the State's Commercial Taxes Department. When asked about the invitation extended by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's son and Minister for Information and Technology Nara Lokesh to companies to invest in their State following Karnataka government's decision to drop notification for land acquisition in Devanahalli, Mr. Siddaramaiah expressed confidence that no company will leave Karnataka. 'We did not say that we will not give land to investors. We will give land. No industry will leave Karnataka,' Mr. Siddaramaiah said, ruling out any capital flight from Karnataka despite the 'politics' played by Mr. Naidu and his son.
The Hindu
31 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Haryana CM accuses Opposition of neglecting OBC welfare
Taking a dig at Opposition parties that previously held power in Haryana, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday (July 20, 2025) accused them of having neglected the interests and welfare of the Other Backward Class (OBC) community. Mr. Saini blamed successive previous governments for adopting an 'anti-OBC' attitude, alleging that they had never demonstrated intent to work towards the community's welfare. He further alleged that Opposition parties, including the Congress, were engaged in spreading propaganda against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, and urged people not to 'fall for the Opposition's propaganda'. 'The people of the State have formed a 'non-stop government' for a record third time, and our government will leave no stone unturned in ensuring development,' he said, while addressing members of the OBC community who had gathered to express gratitude for the government's schemes aimed at their welfare. 'In previous governments, vacancies reserved for OBCs were left unfilled under the excuse of 'no suitable candidates', but the current government has appointed professors, doctors, and engineers from the OBC community, proving that they have always been capable. The problem earlier was the lack of intent by the previous regimes,' Mr. Saini said. He added that the State is witnessing changes in education, employment and other sectors. 'With recruitment now being done on a merit basis, the system is being reformed,' he said. Regarding the upcoming Common Eligibility Test scheduled for July 26 and 27, Mr. Saini said the government would provide free transportation for candidates from their homes to the examination centres and back. 'Female candidates will be allowed to bring one family member along for safety,' he added.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Monsoon Session: All-party meet concludes, Kiren Rijiju terms it 'very positive'
New Delhi: After the conclusion of all-party meeting, ahead of Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju described it as "very positive," stating that 54 lawmakers presented views and issues which they intend to raise during the upcoming session. The Monsoon Session is scheduled to begin on Monday, July 21. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Rijiju emphasised that it is the collective responsibility of both the ruling party and the Opposition to ensure the smooth functioning of Parliament. "It was conveyed that it is everyone's responsibility to ensure that the Parliament runs smoothly," he said. Leaders from various political parties attended the preparatory meeting. The government was represented by Kiren Rijiju and Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. "A total of 54 members from 51 groups participated today, and 40 people expressed their party's views. It has been very positive. All the political leaders have expressed their parties' positions and have also presented the issues that they want to bring up in this session. We have noted all these points on behalf of the government," Rijiju stated. He underlined the importance of collaboration, saying, "The government requested that the session run smoothly. The ruling party and the Opposition will have to work together, and coordination among themselves will have to be maintained." "Our political parties may have different ideologies, but it is everyone's responsibility to ensure that the Parliament runs smoothly. The Opposition has a responsibility and the government has a responsibility too," he added. Addressing concerns raised by smaller political outfits, Rijiju noted that their representatives often get limited time to speak due to the numerical strength-based system of the House. "People from small political parties, especially the parties with one or two members, get less time to speak because the system of Parliament runs on the basis of numbers. But we have taken this into our notice and we have also agreed on how to give enough time to small parties with 12 MPs. We will put this in front of the Speaker and the chairman of the house," he said. "The government reiterated its openness to discussion on all key issues raised by different parties, provided they align with parliamentary norms," he added.
