New Delhi, Jul 20: National Conference (NC) President and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Monday led his party’s protest in the national capital, urging the Centre to fulfil its commitment to restore J&K’s statehood and asserting that the people of J&K could not be kept waiting indefinitely for promises repeatedly made before Parliament, the Supreme Court, and the nation.

Leading hundreds of party leaders and workers towards Jantar Mantar, Abdullah said the NC had assembled in New Delhi not to seek political concessions but to remind the Centre of assurances it had itself made regarding the restoration of J&K’s democratic status.

The protest, attended by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, MLAs, senior party functionaries, and workers from different wings of the party, was organised on the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session to press for the immediate restoration of statehood.
The march was stopped by the Delhi Police before it could reach Jantar Mantar, with the NC alleging that restrictions were imposed on the demonstrators and tear gas was used to disperse protesters.

Addressing party workers after the protest was halted, Abdullah said the NC had come to the country’s capital with a single objective – to seek the restoration of the rights, dignity, and honour of the people of J&K.
“We have gathered here to seek the restoration of the rights, dignity, and honour of the people of J&K. We are also demanding the restoration of full statehood. These are not new demands. They are promises made by the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister before Parliament, before the Supreme Court, and before the people of J&K,” he said.

The three-time chief minister said the Centre had repeatedly assured the people that statehood would be restored after the completion of the electoral process, but the commitment had remained unfulfilled.
“The time has come for those promises to be honoured. We are not asking for anything extraordinary. We are only asking the Government to fulfil the assurances it has repeatedly given,” he said.

Abdullah said the issue before the NC was not merely administrative but one concerning the democratic rights and political dignity of the people.
He said J&K had a long constitutional and democratic history and its people deserved the same constitutional status enjoyed by citizens in other parts of the country.
“Our fight is for dignity, democracy and constitutional rights. The people of J&K have exercised patience. They have participated in the democratic process with the hope that commitments made to them would be honoured. That hope should not be betrayed,” he said.
The former CM said the NC would continue to pursue its demand through peaceful and democratic means.

“This is a constitutional struggle. It is not directed against any individual or institution. We are reminding the Government of its own promises and asking it to respect the trust of the people,” he said.

Referring to the Supreme Court’s observations on the restoration of statehood, Abdullah said the apex court had also expected the process to be completed at the earliest.
“The government itself gave an assurance before the Supreme Court. It is now for the government to act in accordance with those commitments,” he said.
The NC president also criticised the restrictions imposed on the party’s protest, saying democratic governments should allow peaceful demonstrations.
“Our intention was to hold a peaceful protest. Democracy gives every citizen the right to express his or her views peacefully. Such voices should be heard, not stopped,” he said.
Abdullah also expressed solidarity with students protesting over the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. He said the concerns raised by students deserved serious attention instead of police action. “These children are the future of this country. Tomorrow they will shoulder the responsibility of leading India. They are fighting for their rights and demanding justice. The Government should listen to them instead of responding with force,” Abdullah said. The former CM also raised the issue of Ladakh and sought the release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk from hospital.

He said Wangchuk’s campaign was centred on safeguarding the interests of the people of Ladakh and strengthening peace in the strategically important region. “The concerns of Ladakh also deserve attention. Sonam Wangchuk should be released from the hospital. He is seeking the rights of the people of Ladakh. Ladakh is surrounded by China and Pakistan. He wants peace and stability there. There is nothing wrong with demanding justice for the people,” Abdullah said. Since the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019, Abdullah has consistently maintained that restoration of statehood is the minimum constitutional and democratic requirement for J&K.
Although the Centre has repeatedly stated that statehood would be restored at an appropriate time after the Assembly elections, no formal timeline has been announced. The NC has made restoration of statehood the centrepiece of its political campaign, arguing that an elected government can function effectively only when J&K regains the constitutional status enjoyed by other states. Party leaders said Monday’s protest was intended to carry that message directly to the national capital and to Parliament as the Monsoon Session commenced.

Despite being prevented from reaching Jantar Mantar, Abdullah said the NC would continue its campaign peacefully and democratically until the Centre fulfilled its commitment.

“Our struggle will continue. We have faith in democracy and in the constitution. We will continue reminding the government of its promises until the people of J&K get back their rights, their dignity and their statehood,” he said.
 

New Delhi, Jul 20: he government has not yet decided to raise ethanol blending in petrol beyond the current 20 per cent level, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi told the Rajya Sabha on Monday, adding that any future increase would follow further scientific study and consultation with industry.T

“So far, no decision has been taken by the government for increasing ethanol blending with petrol beyond 20 per cent,” Gopi said in a written reply to a question. Any move higher would come “only after detailed scientific and technical studies and consultations with all relevant stakeholders, including automobile manufacturers, Oil Marketing Companies and research institutions,” he said.

Gopi said India reached the 20 per cent blending target five years ahead of schedule, with average blending rising from about 1.53 per cent in 2013-14 to 20 per cent in the 2025-26 supply year, after more than two decades of phased rollout.

Since 2014-15, he said, the programme has saved over 1.97 trillion rupees in foreign exchange, displaced nearly 316 lakh tonnes of crude oil, avoided about 952 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, and generated more than Rs 1.66 lakh crore in additional farmer income.

The minister said the government had received no “widespread or substantiated complaints” from vehicle manufacturers, automobile associations or consumer groups over engine failure, fuel-pump problems, corrosion or water contamination linked to E20 fuel, though it had taken note of concerns raised in media and on social media and examined them scientifically.

More than 20 crore two-wheelers and over 3 crore petrol cars – including many built before E20 certification – have run on E15-plus and E19-E20 fuel for over three-and-a-half and two-and-a-half years respectively “without any verified evidence of widespread engine failure or vehicle breakdown,” Gopi said. He cited service data from one leading four-wheeler maker covering 2.84 crore vehicles in 2025-26, including 1.5 crore non-E20-certified vehicles, that found no damage linked to the fuel, and said a leading two-wheeler maker reported similar findings.

Any mileage loss in older, E10-designed vehicles is “generally marginal,” at around 3-5 per cent, he said, while E20 offers higher octane and cleaner combustion. Manufacturers continue to honour warranties on vehicles using compliant E20 fuel, he added.

On food security, Gopi said the 20 per cent blending target has not reduced food crop availability, as only surplus grains – determined after meeting Public Distribution System, National Food Security Act and buffer-stock requirements – are used for ethanol. Rice diverted for ethanol rose to 39.28 lakh tonnes in 2025-26 through June 30 from 31.11 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, while maize diversion stood at 67.87 lakh tonnes in the same period, down from 131.18 lakh tonnes in 2024-25.

He said retail sugar and rice inflation had not been affected, calling the programme a “waste-to-wealth” approach.

On water use, Gopi said the government’s approach was designed to protect water sustainability, with feedstocks diversified beyond sugarcane to include maize, whose share in ethanol production rose to about 37 per cent in 2025-26 from zero in 2021-22. Ethanol plants typically use 3-5 litres of processed water per litre of ethanol produced, he said, and distilleries are required to operate as zero-liquid-discharge units.

State-run oil marketing companies procured 705.43 crore litres of ethanol worth Rs 49,577 crore in 2025-26 through June, following 1,033.31 crore litres worth Rs 73,996 crore in 2024-25 and 679.04 crore litres worth Rs 48,757 crore in 2023-24, Gopi said, adding that 501 ethanol suppliers are currently registered with the companies.

He said there was no proposal to mandate lower-blend or non-blended petrol at select outlets, as running parallel supply chains would raise costs and dilute the programme’s environmental and farm-income benefits.

“There is no proposal to mandate the availability of non-blended or lower-blend petrol at select retail outlets. The Government’s policy is to progressively transition towards cleaner, technologically superior and environmentally sustainable fuels in accordance with the National Policy on Biofuels and the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme,” he said.

New Delhi, July 20: Four Indian nationals were killed and another critically injured after the commercial vessel MV GOLDEN LEO came under attack while departing the Ukrainian port of Odesa on Saturday evening, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

In a statement, the MEA said, “On the evening of 19 July 2026, the vessel MV GOLDEN LEO was attacked while departing the port of Odesa. At the time of the incident, there were 17 crew members on board, including 5 Indian nationals.”

The ministry said, “As per information available, four Indian nationals have tragically lost their lives, while one is hospitalized in a critical condition. Our Mission in Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation and is making every effort to extend all possible assistance to those affected.”

The MEA added, “We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased Indian nationals and wish the injured Indian national a speedy and full recovery.”

Condemning the attack, the ministry said, “India condemns such attacks and reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, is deplorable and should be avoided.”

Pune, Jul 20: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has been selected for the prestigious Lokmanya Tilak Award for his significant contribution to the field of national security, the Tilak Smarak Trust announced on Monday.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will present the award to Doval at a function in Pune on August 1. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar are likely to attend the event, the trust’s president, Dr Rohit Tilak, said at a press conference.

The award ceremony will be held at the Maharashtriya Mandal ground in the Gultekdi area of Pune.

Doval, 81, has handled crucial assignments in sensitive regions, including Mizoram, Sikkim, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. He also served in diplomatic roles at Indian missions in Islamabad and London.

He is the longest-serving National Security Advisor of India. Doval has served as India’s special representative for the India-China boundary talks and is also credited with playing an important role in diplomatic efforts that helped resolve the Doklam standoff.

Instituted in 1983, the Lokmanya Tilak Award was first conferred on socialist leader S M Joshi.

It is awarded every year on August 1, the death anniversary of freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak, to individuals who have made a remarkable contribution to the nation’s progress and development.

Over the years, the award has been presented to several eminent personalities, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former PMs Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, former President Pranab Mukherjee and veteran politician Sharad Pawar.

New Delhi, Jul 20: As CJP supporters attempted to march towards Parliament on Monday, leading to clashes with police and detentions, the scenes echoed some of Delhi’s most defining public protests over the past 15 years, when thousands similarly tried to take their demands to the seat of power.

The 2021 Republic Day tractor rally was among the biggest protests to witness a march towards central Delhi. As part of the year-long agitation against the three farm laws, tens of thousands of farmers entered the capital with tractors on January 26 after assembling at the city’s borders.

While the rally had been permitted on designated routes, a section of the protesters breached barricades, deviated from the agreed routes and headed towards central Delhi, leading to clashes with police. Some protesters also entered the Red Fort complex and hoisted the Nishan Sahib and farmers’ union flags from its ramparts. More than 300 police personnel were injured in the violence.

On Monday, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporters carrying the tricolour raised slogans and pushed through multiple police barricades while demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged paper leaks and examination irregularities. Police used force to stop the protesters from marching towards Parliament.

Attempts to march towards Parliament or other high-security areas in central Delhi have featured in several major protests over the years, with demonstrators seeking to press their demands before the government.

The 2011 Anna Hazare-led anti-corruption movement was one of the largest public mobilisations witnessed in the capital. After Hazare’s arrest, thousands gathered outside Tihar Jail before he shifted to Ramlila Maidan, where his 13-day fast drew large crowds demanding a stronger Lokpal law.

The 2012 Nirbhaya protests saw thousands of students, young professionals and citizens gather at India Gate and Raisina Hill before repeatedly attempting to march towards Parliament and Rashtrapati Bhavan. Police responded with water cannons, tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowds.

The anti-CAA protests in 2019 and 2020 again saw large demonstrations across Delhi. Student protests at Jamia Millia Islamia and the prolonged sit-in at Shaheen Bagh drew thousands of people, while road closures, heavy police deployment and temporary Metro station closures became common during the agitation.

The year-long farmers’ protest against the three farm laws also turned Delhi’s borders into major protest sites. Thousands of farmers camped at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur after being stopped from entering the city, with the demonstrations continuing until the Centre repealed the laws.

In 2023, several leading wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar attempted to march towards the newly inaugurated Parliament building before being stopped and detained by Delhi Police, drawing nationwide attention.

Monday’s protest once again brought large crowds to the streets of central Delhi, adding to the list of major demonstrations that have unfolded in the national capital over the years.

New Delhi, July 20: Declaring that the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood is only the first step in the National Conference’s political campaign, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday asserted that the fight would eventually extend to the restoration of the region’s special constitutional status, accusing the Centre of forcing his party to protest in the national capital.

“First statehood and then the restoration of special status,” Abdullah declared, making it the central political message of the National Conference (NC) protest in Delhi.

The demonstration, led by Omar Abdullah and NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah, sought to press the Centre to fulfil its repeated assurances to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, nearly two years after the Assembly elections.

Omar Abdullah had briefly travelled to Jammu earlier in the day to assess the situation following flash floods before returning to Delhi to join the protest.

Protest disrupted

The demonstration began at Jantar Mantar but was disrupted after permission for the gathering was denied. NC leaders later attempted to move towards the Constitution Club. Omar Abdullah alleged that police used tear gas as leaders and workers sought to continue the protest.

Addressing reporters, the Chief Minister said the National Conference had exhausted all other avenues before deciding to protest in Delhi.

“We were forced to protest in Delhi for statehood by the Centre. We have been continuously reminding the Centre of their promises for the past two years. We asked them to fulfil the promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and before the Supreme Court.”

He said the party’s agenda remained unchanged since the first sitting of the elected Assembly.

“We had passed a special resolution in the Assembly on the very first day demanding statehood and the restoration of the special position, special status and constitutional rights promised to us. We won’t leave our agenda.”

Calling the protest the beginning of a sustained political campaign, Abdullah added:

“We have staged this protest to remind the Centre of their promises. Everything will start from here. First statehood and then the restoration of special status.”

‘Democracy is being strangled’

Omar Abdullah accused the authorities of denying even a peaceful demonstration in the national capital.

“We have come to the capital of our country to demand what is rightfully ours. Unfortunately, even here we are not being allowed to hold a peaceful protest. Democracy is being strangled.”

He continued:

“Around 50, 60, at most 100 people came from Jammu and Kashmir with the hope that we would sit at Jantar Mantar, stage a peaceful protest, and demand our rights from the Central Government.”

Referring to the Centre’s assurances, Abdullah said:

“We wanted to remind the Central Government of the promise it made in Parliament and before the Supreme Court—that statehood would be restored immediately after the elections. The Supreme Court’s direction was ‘as soon as possible, at the earliest.’ That means Jammu and Kashmir should be granted statehood again without delay.”

Questioning the government’s repeated references to an “appropriate time” for restoring statehood, he said:

“If the Government does not intend to comply with the Supreme Court’s direction, then it should say so openly—that it has no intention of restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. Fine. After that, we will decide what course of action we need to take.”

He added:

“But instead, we are repeatedly told that it will happen at the ‘appropriate time.’ No one explains to us what this ‘appropriate time’ actually means.”

Explaining why the protest was shifted to Delhi, Abdullah said:

“That is why, compelled by the circumstances, we have come to Delhi today. We are people living in a far-flung corner of this country, and the rest of the nation often pays little attention to us. So we came here today to remind the Central Government of the promises it made.”

Describing the events that followed, he said:

“We were trying to go to the Constitution Club because we thought that if not at Jantar Mantar, then at least there we would be able to present our views. But here too, along with others, we were targeted with tear gas. It is deeply unfortunate.”

Farooq Abdullah reminds Centre of its promise

National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah said the protest was intended to remind the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister of commitments made in Parliament, before the Supreme Court and to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“We are fighting for the full restoration of statehood. It is a promise made by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister—in Parliament, before the Supreme Court, and to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We are here today to remind them: please restore our complete statehood.”

Deputy CM: Nearly two years have passed

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary said the protest reflected growing frustration over the delay in restoring statehood.

“It is the misfortune of the people of Jammu and Kashmir that today we have had to come to Delhi to stage a protest and remind our Prime Minister and Home Minister of the promise they made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir—that statehood would be restored after the elections.”

He added:

“Today, it has been nearly two years, yet the Prime Minister and the Home Minister have not fulfilled that promise.”

Choudhary said the National Conference, the Congress and allied parties had come together to remind the Centre of its commitment.

“This is a promise they must fulfil. They made it in Parliament. They made it before the Supreme Court. They made this promise to every single person in Jammu and Kashmir—that statehood would be restored.”

Questioning the government’s repeated assurances, he asked:

“They keep talking about restoring statehood at an ‘appropriate time.’ We have come to Delhi today to ask one question: When will that appropriate time come?”

Other leaders join protest

National Conference MP Sajjad Kichloo said the presence of elected representatives on the streets of Delhi reflected public sentiment in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The elected government and the representatives chosen by the people are out on the streets of Delhi today. This itself shows how upset the people of Jammu and Kashmir truly are.”

AAP MLA Mehraj Malik also backed the demand for restoring statehood.

“Every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir wants statehood. No MLA has come here for personal reasons. We are here to represent the sentiments of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

He said the mandate given by the people had been undermined and argued that promises made after the abrogation of Article 370 had not been fulfilled.

“This struggle for the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir will continue,” Malik said.