J&K NC to go ahead with July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar over Statehood, constitutional guarantees

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday visited his uncle Dr. He stated that there will be no change in the upcoming protest plan due to the death of Mustafa Kamal or the Delhi police not approving the protest permit. Meanwhile, the ruling party has not yet received the support of other regional parties.

Abdullah said, “There will be no change in our protest. Dr. Mustafa Kamal also wanted our usurped rights to be returned. We will definitely go to Delhi on July 19. If we cannot get permission for Jantar Mantar, we will negotiate the next move. But we are going to Delhi on July 19.”

The ruling National Conference is planning to hold a protest with the participation of all its legislators at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament. He invited all regional and national parties to support and join the protest. No regional party has yet confirmed its participation.

J&K Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari announced that he will not join the protest. Mr. Bukhari said the demand for restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir should be pursued through dialogue with the Center and not through conflict.

“Government alone cannot fill people’s stomachs. They need job opportunities. This insensitive government does not pay attention to these urgent problems,” Mr. Buhari said.

J&K Awami Ittehad Party has decided that its chief Engineer Rashid, who is currently in Tihar Jail, will decide on the participation. The J&K People’s Democratic Party is yet to decide whether it will join the protest.