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NC Prepares for J&K Statehood Protest

NC Prepares for J&K Statehood Protest
Why Mehbooba’s party just declined Omar’s Jantar Mantar invite · indianexpress.com

The National Conference (NC) is getting ready for a big protest in New Delhi to ask the central government to give Jammu and Kashmir its special state status back.

The protest is planned for July 20 at Jantar Mantar.

The NC leaders, including Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, are in Delhi to make sure everything is ready.

However, it is not clear if the Delhi government will allow the protest to happen.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader, Mehbooba Mufti, says her party will join the protest only if they also talk about bringing back Article 370, which gave Jammu and Kashmir special rights.

The central government has said they will restore statehood at the right time, but they have not said when.

The Congress party supports the NC's protest, but the PDP and another party, the Peoples Conference, will not join unless the agenda is broadened.

Key facts

Event
NC prepares for J&K statehood protest at Jantar Mantar
Date
July 20, 2024
Location
Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
NC's Demand
Restoration of statehood to J&K
PDP's Condition
Inclusion of Article 370 and other constitutional issues in the protest agenda
Government's Stance
Assured restoration of statehood at an 'appropriate time' but no definite timeline
Permission Status
Uncertainty over Delhi administration's approval for the protest
Supporting Parties
Congress party supports the NC's protest

Timeline

  1. Sharmila backs Wangchuk's strike, sparks NC protest plan.

  2. NC joins protest call, targets July 20, demands state status restoration.

  3. PDP's participation hinges on Article 370 discussion.

Quotes

Mehbooba Mufti

Chief of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)

“Protesting in unison solely for statehood would only legitimise and sanitise the illegal act of revoking Jammu and Kashmir's special status and could be viewed as a direct endorsement of August 5, the darkest day in our collective history.”
telegraphindia.com
“After careful consideration and deliberations with my senior colleagues, I have come to the conclusion that it would not be fit for us to participate in a protest whose raison d'etre is solely and exclusively the demand for statehood.”
telegraphindia.com

Sources

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