Jammu, J&K (India): The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) on Monday organised a protest march in Jammu, demanding the immediate restoration of statehood to the Union Territory.
The march, organised by the party’s District Jammu unit, began from Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan and passed through Residency Road, Raghunath Bazaar and City Chowk.
The protest in Jammu was led by District President (Jammu Urban) Chander Mohan Sharma. Similar demonstrations were also held at district headquarters across the Jammu region as part of the party’s campaign urging the BJP-led Central Government to fulfil its commitment of restoring full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the gathering, former MLC and Provincial Secretary Sheikh Bashir Ahmed said the continued delay in restoring statehood had adversely affected governance and development. He alleged that despite the elected government’s efforts, several developmental and administrative initiatives had been hampered due to the existing Union Territory status.
He said both the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister had assured, inside and outside Parliament, that full statehood would be restored. However, despite nearly two years having passed since the elected government assumed office, the promise remained unfulfilled.
Sheikh Bashir Ahmed said the National Conference has consistently advocated for the restoration of statehood. He added that party president Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Vice President and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, along with the party’s MLAs, MPs and senior leaders, were also protesting in New Delhi to press for the restoration of statehood.
He thanked the district presidents across the Jammu region for successfully organising protest demonstrations at their respective district headquarters and reaffirmed that the National Conference would continue its democratic struggle until statehood is restored.
Among those present were Provincial Secretary Pardeep Bali; Joint Secretaries Ankush Abrol and Dr. Gafoor; Labour Wing President Nar Singh; District President Jammu Rural-A Subash Bhagat; G.H. Malik; Sewak Singh; Vice Presidents of District Jammu Urban Shabir Sambyal and Gurnam Singh; District Secretary Jammu Urban S. Gurnam Singh; District President Jammu Urban Youth NC Sahil Kerni; District President Women Wing Doda Anita Thakur; Block Presidents S. Parvinder Singh (Gandhi Nagar), Bahadur Lal (Bahu), Mohinder Singh (Khour) and Sukdev Singh (Bhawal); YNC leader Attal Singh; Pinky Khalsa; District President ST Cell Jammu Rural-A Mehmood Ahmad Rizvi; Deep Mehra, Muzamil Malik, Surinder Singh Jamwal, Asha Singh, Gaurav Sharma, Gaurav Dogra, Karan Singh, Ajay Kumar and other party workers.