New Delhi, July 20: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday left for New Delhi to participate in the National Conference’s protest demanding the restoration of statehood to the Union Territory.
The protest, led by National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah, is being held on the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session. Senior party leaders, legislators, Members of Parliament, and workers gathered in the national capital before marching together to press for the early restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
Before leaving for Delhi, Omar Abdullah reiterated that the restoration of statehood is a constitutional right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and not a concession. He said the Centre had repeatedly assured that statehood would be restored at an appropriate time, but the promise remains unfulfilled.
The Chief Minister had earlier returned to Jammu to review relief and rescue operations in the flash flood-affected districts of Rajouri and Poonch. After assessing the situation, he travelled back to Delhi to strengthen the National Conference’s campaign for statehood.
The National Conference said the protest marks the beginning of a more intensified movement seeking the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, with hundreds of party workers and leaders participating in the demonstration.
