‘First statehood, then special status’: Omar Abdullah leads NC protest in Delhi
New Delhi: Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said restoration of statehood is only the first step, and the National Conference’s struggle will continue until the territory’s special constitutional status is also restored.
According to Kashmir Media Service, addressing a protest at Delhi’sJantar Mantar led by the National Conference, Abdullah declared, “First statehood and then the restoration of special status,” terming it the party’s central political message.
The demonstration, led by Omar Abdullah and NC President Dr. Farooq Abdullah, sought to press the Modi regime to fulfil its repeated assurances to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, nearly two years after the Assembly elections.
Omar Abdullah said the party was “forced to protest in Delhi” after exhausting all other avenues. “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.
He noted that the NC had passed a special resolution in the first sitting of the elected Assembly demanding statehood and the restoration of special status and constitutional rights. “We won’t leave our agenda,” he added.
The protest 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 said that police used tear gas as leaders and workers tried to continue the protest.
In a symbolic gesture, Omar Abdullah travelled to the protest venue in an auto rickshaw along with other NC leaders. Earlier in the day, he had briefly visited Jammu to assess the situation following flash floods before returning to Delhi.
Calling the protest the beginning of a sustained political campaign, Abdullah said, “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.”
He also accused authorities of denying even a peaceful demonstration in the national capital.
