Congress announces mass protest campaign in support of statehood to J&K

Jammu, Jul 17: The Congress Party has announced a mass protest campaign demanding the granting of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. As part of this initiative, the party plans to gherao the Parliament on July 22, alongside protests in front of the Raj Bhawan in Srinagar and Jammu.Addressing a press conference here, JKPCC president Tariq Hameed Karra said, “Congress will hold a protest march to the Raj Bhawan in Srinagar on July 19 and in Jammu on July 20. Following these protests, there will be a ‘Delhi Chalo’ call on July 21, leading to a planned gherao of Parliament on July 22 in New Delhi.”Karra outlined the schedule of protests aimed at intensifying the party’s statehood movement, especially in the wake of letters from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the presentation of a bill for the restoration of full statehood during the upcoming Monsoon session.He said the party will organise a march to the Raj Bhawan in Srinagar on July 19 and another in Jammu on July 20. On July 21, delegates will travel by bus to Delhi to stage a protest, including a dharna and march to Parliament on July 22.Karra said that Congress is committed to ensuring the bill for full statehood is presented and passed during this parliamentary session.Senior leaders, former ministers, MLAs, ex-legislators, District Congress Committee (DCC) Presidents, and other party leaders will participate in this movement. “The Congress campaign for statehood enjoys the full backing and support of all 233 MPs belonging to the INDIA bloc,” the JKPCC chief said.