IIOJK: Congress protests for statehood, police detain dozens party leaders, workers
Jammu: The Congress staged a protest sit-in in Jammu, Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, to press for the immediate restoration of full statehood to the territory and tried to march towards Governor House.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Indian police took action and detained dozens of party leaders and workers and thwarted their march towards the Governor House.
A large number of Congress workers staged a peaceful sit-in at Maharaja Hari Singh Park in Jammu. The sit-in and protest march were led by IIOJK chapter Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra and Ghulam Ahmad Mir.
The protesters wanted to present a memorandum to Indian President Draupadi Murmu at the Governor House, demanding the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The police attacked the participants of the march and detained dozens of Congress workers and shifted them to the Police Lines.
During this, clashes also took place between the protesters and the police personnel. Those detained include Ghulam Ahmad Mir and working president Raman Bhalla.
Earlier, Tariq Hameed Karra, while talking to media persons, said that the Congress has been campaigning for the restoration of the territory for almost two years, and through district-level programmes, hunger strikes and campaigns, it is conveying this message under the slogans of “Chalo Srinagar”, “Chalo Jammu” and “Chalo Delhi” in all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that the memorandum was to be submitted to the Indian President at the residence of the Lieutenant Governor for forwarding it.
Karra also announced that the party will intensify its movement with the second round of district-level programmes and is considering a long march from Lakhanpur in Kathua to Lolab in North Kashmir.
