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.
