NC stages protest in Delhi, demands immediate restoration of IIOJK statehood
Omar Abdullah vows to continue struggle for Kashmiris’ rights, dignity and all that was taken away
New Delhi: Leaders and workers of the National Conference (NC), led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and party president Farooq Abdullah, staged a protest in New Delhi today, demanding the immediate restoration of full statehood to Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
According to Kashmir Media Service, the protesters assembled at Jantar Mantar, raising slogans in support of statehood and saying that the BJP-led Indian government reneged on its promise to restore the territory’s statehood. Police prevented the demonstrators from continuing their protest at the venue, prompting NC leaders to shift their gathering elsewhere in the capital.
Protesters were stopped by police from staging their demonstration, Omar Abdullah said in a post on X, which had videos and pictures of people holding posters and shouting slogans.
“This is only the beginning of our struggle for statehood, our rights, our dignity and everything that was taken away from us,” Omar Abdullah said in the post.
We were stopped from getting to Jantar Mantar & stopped from protesting peacefully for what is rightfully ours but we were not silenced. This is only the beginning of our struggle for statehood, our rights, our dignity and everything that was taken away from us. pic.twitter.com/tSMwtPLmqI
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 20, 2026
In August 2019, the Narendra Modi-led government revoked the special constitutional status of IIOJK by abrogating Article 370, downgraded the territory into two Union Territories, and promised that statehood would be restored at an appropriate time. However, despite repeated assurances, no timeline has been announced for its restoration.
Speaking on the occasion, IIOJK Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary criticized the BJP-led government for failing to honor its commitment. He said it was unfortunate that the elected representatives of occupied Jammu and Kashmir had to protest in New Delhi to remind Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of their promise to restore statehood. He said nearly one and a half years had passed since the elections, but the pledge remained unfulfilled.
