RK News Service
Kupwara, May 17: Tariq Hameed Karra on Saturday said the Indian National Congress would continue its struggle for restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, accusing the Centre of adopting “insensitive and unresponsive” policies towards the people of the Union Territory.
Karra made the remarks while addressing a day-long political convention of party workers in the border area of Lolab in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
He said the Centre’s decision to downgrade the erstwhile state into two Union Territories after the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A had hurt the sentiments and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Congress party will continue to fight vigorously for the protection of people’s rights and restoration of complete statehood to J&K,” Karra said, adding that the party’s “Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq” campaign would continue until statehood is restored.
The JKPCC president alleged that Jammu and Kashmir was facing economic and developmental challenges, including rising unemployment, after the constitutional changes of August 2019.
He also stressed the importance of strengthening the party at the grassroots level and asked party workers to actively participate in the second phase of the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan (SSA).
Leader of Congress Legislature Party Ghulam Ahmad Mir, who also addressed the convention, said Congress had played a major role in nation-building and accused the BJP-led government of misleading people on issues of development and employment.
Mir alleged that people across the country were facing rising inflation, taxes and unemployment, while genuine public concerns remained unaddressed.
MLA Irfan Hafeez Lone said development and public welfare had always remained the priority of the Congress party and urged workers to continue outreach efforts at the grassroots level.
Several senior Congress leaders and workers from Kupwara district attended the convention.