Senior leaders condemn police action in Srinagar; announce ‘Delhi Chalo’ for Parliament gherao
Diplomat Correspondent
Jammu, (DD) The Jammu & Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) has announced a strong protest march in Jammu tomorrow, demanding restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The march will commence from Shaheedi Chowk at 11:30 AM and culminate at Raj Bhawan, where a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be submitted through the Lieutenant Governor.
The announcement comes a day after police allegedly used force to foil a similar peaceful protest in Srinagar. According to Congress leaders, several senior party functionaries were detained, and PCC president Tariq Hameed Karra sustained minor injuries during a scuffle at the Srinagar Congress headquarters. Protesters, including legislators, were reportedly prevented from joining the march and many workers were detained across the Valley.
At a press briefing in Jammu, senior Congress leaders Raman Bhalla (Working President), Ravinder Sharma (Chief Spokesperson), Ved Mahajan (Ex-MLC), and Rajnish Sharma (Treasurer) strongly condemned the administration’s action, calling it an attack on democratic rights. They alleged that sitting MLA Irfan Hafeez Lone and others were forced to hold a sit-in at Narbal, where they were later forcibly removed.
“The use of force to suppress a peaceful march for a legitimate demand like statehood is unacceptable,” the leaders said. “The people of J&K were promised restoration of statehood multiple times by the Centre, but six years have passed and there has been no action.”
The party has also announced its “Delhi Chalo” movement, with a delegation of registered leaders and workers set to leave for Delhi on Monday, July 21 at 2:30 PM from Maharaja Hari Singh Park, Jammu. There, they will participate in a Parliament Gherao to further press their demand.
Congress leaders called upon all political, social, trade and civil society groups to join the movement in any capacity. “This is not just Congress’s fight; it is a common cause for the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” they said.
Spokespersons Sanjeev Panda and Kapil Singh were also present at the press conference.(DD)