National Conference President Farooq Abdullah has called for a united political movement in support of restoring Jammu and Kashmir's statehood. He has invited leaders from opposition parties along with representatives of the Bharatiya Janata Party to participate in a peaceful protest scheduled to be held at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
According to Abdullah, the demonstration is intended to bring together political leaders from across the country in support of what he described as a collective democratic cause. He said the protest would focus on the demand for restoring Jammu and Kashmir's statehood while reaffirming the principles of federalism and democratic governance.
The National Conference has consistently maintained that the restoration of full statehood should be implemented at the earliest. The party argues that restoring statehood would strengthen democratic institutions and provide greater administrative authority to the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir.
Farooq Abdullah stated that the proposed gathering is not directed against any particular political party but is aimed at creating a broad national consensus on the issue. By extending invitations to leaders from both opposition parties and the Bharatiya Janata Party, he emphasized the importance of dialogue and cooperation on matters concerning the constitutional and democratic future of the Union Territory.
The demand for restoring statehood has remained one of the key political issues in Jammu and Kashmir since the region was reorganized into two Union Territories in August 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A. Since then, several regional political parties have repeatedly urged the Central Government to fulfill its commitment regarding the restoration of statehood.
Leaders of the National Conference have pointed out that assurances regarding the restoration of statehood have been made by the Central Government on several occasions, including statements before Parliament and submissions made before the Supreme Court. They believe these commitments should now be implemented through an appropriate constitutional process.
The planned protest at Jantar Mantar is expected to serve as a platform for political leaders to express their views on federalism, democratic representation, and the future governance of Jammu and Kashmir. Organizers have stated that the event will remain peaceful and democratic while respecting constitutional norms.
Political observers believe the participation of leaders from different political parties could influence the national discussion surrounding the issue. However, it remains to be seen which parties will formally accept the invitation and attend the demonstration.
The Central Government has previously stated that the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood would take place at an appropriate time after administrative and security considerations are addressed. No official timeline has been announced so far.
The upcoming protest is expected to draw attention to one of the most significant constitutional and political issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir, as regional leaders continue to seek the restoration of full statehood through democratic and peaceful means.