The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Wednesday strongly protested and gheraoed the BJP headquarters at Trikuta Nagar, Jammu, demanding the immediate restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The protesters were led by Rattan Lal Gupta, provincial President J&K National Conference Jammu.
Addressing the protesters, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra former minister and additional general secretary said that the restoration of statehood was the democratic and constitutional right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He reminded the BJP-led central government of the commitments repeatedly made by the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister, both inside and outside Parliament, regarding restoration of statehood.
Sadhotra said, “The people of J&K have been waiting for the fulfilment of this solemn commitment. The Centre must not further delay the restoration of Statehood and should immediately bring the necessary legislation before Parliament.” He further said that the Supreme Court also directed the union government to take steps towards restoration of statehood, and therefore there was no justification for keeping the people of Jammu and Kashmir deprived of their full State status.
Addressing the protesters, Rattan Lal Gupta said that the main objective of gherao BJP headquarter was to send a clear message to the party (BJP) that the people of Jammu and Kashmir would continue to raise their voice democratically until full statehood was restored.
Gupta said that the Centre must respect the decisive mandate given by the people of Jammu and Kashmir to the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and the Omar Abdullah-led Government. The popular mandate must be honoured in the true spirit of democracy and federalism.
He asserted that statehood was essential for effective governance, accountability, inclusive development and protection of the democratic aspirations of the people of J&K. The National Conference would continue its peaceful democratic struggle until the legitimate demand for restoration of statehood was fulfilled, Gupta said.
Among others who participated in protest included Sheikh Bashir Ahmad provincial secretary Jammu, Babu Rampal former minister and central zone president , Bimla Luthra former MLA, Deepinder Kour former MLC, Vijay Lochan chairman SC Cell, Abdul Gahi Teli chairman OBC Cell, Tejinder Singh provincial president Jammu YNC, Harshvardhan Singh president NCSU, Pardeep Bali, Ayub Malik provincial secretaries Jammu, Ankush Abrol joint secretary Jammu province, Laxmi Datta senior leader besides others.
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