NC protest in Srinagar for statehood restoration, constitutional guarantees
Police stop march to BJP office; Protests to continue until what was snatched in 2019 is given back: Tanvir Sadiq
Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference (NC) staged a protest demonstration in Srinagar, demanding that the BJP-led Indian government fulfil its promises on restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees for the territory.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the protest started from Rajbagh and proceeded towards the BJP headquarters in Jawahar Nagar, with NC ministers, MLAs, leaders and workers raising slogans and carrying placards demanding the restoration of IIOJK’s statehood.
Police stopped the protesters from marching towards the BJP headquarters.
The NC had planned to encircle the BJP office to protest against New Delhi over the delay in restoring statehood. However, Indian forces deployed in large numbers stopped the protesters from proceeding towards Jawahar Nagar.
NC MLA and chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said the BJP did not fulfil its promise to restore statehood to IIOJK. “Where is statehood? It has been two years since the elections. The time has come to fulfil the promise made to us,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the protest.
Sadiq said the peaceful march was intended to convey the party’s demands to the Indian leadership. He listed the party’s key demands, which include restoration of statehood, constitutional safeguards, and reservation-related issues concerning the youth of IIOJK. He also raised concerns over delays in the rationalisation of posts for youth, saying employment-related issues needed urgent attention.
Demanding restoration of statehood and the constitutional guarantees revoked by the BJP-led Indian government on August 5, 2019, Sadiq said the NC would continue its protest till “what was snatched from us is given back”.
In Jammu, dozens of NC workers were detained while attempting to march towards the BJP headquarters at Trikuta Nagar seeking restoration of statehood to IIOJK.
Led by Jammu provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta, the NC workers assembled at the Trikuta Nagar market and were proceeding towards the BJP headquarters when they were stopped by police. The protesters attempted to cross the barricades but were subsequently detained by police.
