On Tuesday, the Jammu & Kashmir Congress held a major protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, demanding the immediate restoration of full statehood to Jammu & Kashmir. The protest was led by Pradesh Congress Committee President Tariq Hameed Karra, Congress Legislature Party leader G.A. Mir, and AICC General Secretary in charge of J&K and Ladakh, Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain. Several senior Congress leaders and hundreds of party workers from J&K joined the demonstration.
Speaking at the protest, AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal said, “Jammu & Kashmir is the first state in India’s history that has been downgraded to a Union Territory. This is a serious setback for democracy and a direct insult to the people of the region. It is unacceptable.”
He also questioned the government’s claims of normalcy and safety in the region. “When the Lieutenant Governor himself admits to serious security failures, like the recent Pahalgam terror attack, it proves our point. Unelected officials cannot replace a democratic government. The people of J&K deserve dignity, an elected assembly, and a voice. Congress will not rest until democracy is restored,” Venugopal added.
The protesters raised strong slogans such as “Delhi Chalo” and “Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq” as they demanded that democratic rights be returned to the people of Jammu & Kashmir. They held placards that read “Loktantra Bahal Karo” (Restore Democracy), “Statehood Wapas Karo” (Return Statehood), and “Jammu Kashmir Ke Saath Nyaay Karo” (Do Justice to Jammu & Kashmir).
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi expressed full support for the protest and the party’s ongoing campaign for J&K’s statehood.
Over 500 Congress workers had travelled from across Jammu & Kashmir to Delhi, facing long journeys and security restrictions. The protest was part of a larger series of demonstrations by the Congress Party. On Sunday, the J&K Congress held a similar protest in Jammu where Karra and Mir were detained by police while peacefully demanding the restoration of statehood. Despite the detentions, people continued to protest, showing what Congress leaders described as “widespread public anger.”
Earlier on Saturday, another protest took place in Srinagar at the party headquarters, where senior Congress leaders addressed grassroots workers, who were surrounded by security forces during the demonstration.
The Congress has vowed to raise the statehood issue in both Houses of Parliament during the ongoing monsoon session.
