IIOJK Congress holds protest in Delhi, demands statehood
Kharge, Rahul pledge commitment to protecting Kashmiri people’s rights
New Delhi: The Indian National Congress’s occupied Jammu and Kashmir chapter held a demonstration at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar to press for the restoration of Statehood for the territory, and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian constitution.
According to Kashmir Media Service, around 500 Congress workers and leaders from IIOJK travelled to the Indian capital by bus to press their demands. While Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi were not present at the protest site, both leaders extended full support to the demonstrators.
Addressing the gathering, Indian National Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal said, “When the Lieutenant Governor himself admits to grave security lapses in the Pahalgam attack, it vindicates our stand. Unelected, unaccountable administrators cannot replace a democratically elected government. Jammu & Kashmir deserves its dignity, its Assembly, and its voice”.
Later, Kharge and Gandhi chaired a meeting with the leaders and workers from IIOJK chapter at the party’s headquarters, Indira Bhavan.
In a post on X, Kharge asserted, “The people of Jammu & Kashmir deserve full Statehood. It is their Constitutional right. We have written to the [Indian] PM demanding the same. Modi Govt has a consistent policy of betrayal for Jammu & Kashmir.”
Rahul Gandhi echoed the sentiment on Facebook, saying the Congress is “fully committed to protecting the rights of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.”
Speaking to the media after the meeting, IIOJK Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra said, “… Today, Rahul Gandhi is the only ray of hope left in J&K…”
Another IIOJK Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir emphasised that there has been a dual power centre in the territory, and the common Kashmiri is facing the brunt of its imbalance. “…We have come here to demand justice, not to beg,” Mir said.
