Cong launches 21-day protest campaign demanding Statehood: Karra

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, July 31: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President and MLA Shalteng, Tariq Hameed Karra, today announced a 21-day peaceful protest programme across J&K, demanding the restoration of complete Statehood to the Union Territory.
Karra said the protest is part of the Congress’s ongoing “Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq” campaign, which has been running for the past six months. “We have been consistently fighting for the restoration of our state and our rights. After six months of outreach, we finally reached Delhi where our top Congress leadership – Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, K.C. Venugopal, our in-charge Dr. Nasir, and three-time Chief Minister Digvijay Singh – stood with us in the pouring rain. They promised they will continue to stand with us until this struggle reaches its logical conclusion,” Karra said.

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He emphasized that the party’s demand is for complete Statehood. “We fear that if Statehood is restored, it might be partial or diluted. We want nothing less than full and undivided statehood as it existed before August 5, 2019,” he said, referring to the day when the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 was revoked.
Karra announced that the protest programme will begin on August 1 with a mass contact campaign that will run through August 4. During this phase, Congress workers will reach out to people in districts, markets, and neighborhoods, engaging with shopkeepers, traders, and the general public to mobilize support for the demand.
On August 5, the party will observe a Black Day to mark the fifth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370. “It is the blackest day in the history of Jammu and Kashmir,” Karra said.
From August 9 to 20, Congress workers and leaders will stage peaceful hunger strikes at various locations across the Union Territory. The campaign will culminate on August 21 with a massive public gathering.
Responding to the National Conference’s criticism that Congress did not consult them while planning the protest, Karra said, “The NC is part of the Government. Congress supports the Government from outside. We are not bound to consult them on every action. Our programme is clear and independent.”
Karra also referred to what he termed “Jaffee Diplomacy” – a phrase he did not elaborate on but appeared to criticize the current approach to political engagement and negotiations around Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional status.
He said that since the Monsoon Session of Parliament ends on August 21, the party will closely watch developments in Delhi and announce its next steps accordingly.

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