New Delhi [India], July 20 : Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) leader and MLA Hasnain Masoodi led a protest in the national capital on Monday, pressing the Centre to fulfil its long-standing promise of restoring statehood to the region.
Speaking to ANI, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference MLA Hasnain Masoodi emphasised that the continued delay in restoring statehood is damaging the national interest, adding that the reason for the protest is the prevailing uncertainty.
He said, "The promise regarding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood was made on the floor of Parliament, before the Supreme Court. Yet, for a year and a half, no action has been taken. We exercised patience for a year. We have come here now to address this and the prevailing uncertainty; such uncertainty is not in the interest of the nation or its people. That is the reason for our visit and our protest..."
On Saturday, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary said the National Conference's protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20 is aimed at reminding the Centre of its promise to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to ANI, Jammu and Kashmir Dy CM said, "... During the 2024 elections, both the Prime Minister and Home Minister assured the people of Jammu & Kashmir that statehood would be restored once the elections concluded. Yet, twenty-one months have passed; we have exercised great patience and waited, hoping for the day when the PM and Home Minister would fulfill the promise made to the people of Jammu & Kashmir."
"A decision was taken during a party legislators' meeting to gather at Jantar Mantar on the 20th. We intend to remind the Prime Minister and Home Minister that the time has come to honour their commitment to restore statehood after the elections," he further added.
On July 20, the National Conference called for a protest at the Jantar Mantar to demand statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. Party chief Farooq Abdullah invited the leaders across party lines to join the protest.
Earlier, on July 10, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that the National Conference has not received permission for its July 20 protest, demanding restoration of full statehood for the Union Territory.
He alleged that there was an intent to "sabotage" the National Conference's protest.
Full statehood has been a part of NC's long-standing demand after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. National Conference has invited 52 leaders across party lines for the protest at Jantar Mantar.
Following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the Centre formed two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
In 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the move to abrogate Article 370, while not taking up the question of the restoration of statehood, as the Centre had submitted that it would be restored in due time.