Political Parties Take To The Streets In J&K For Statehood, Denounce BJP

On August 5, Congress, National Conference, and PDP workers took to the streets in Jammu, demanding the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The protests coincided with the sixth anniversary of the revocation of the erstwhile state’s special status under Article 370, which led to its bifurcation into two Union Territories.

The three political parties, along with the Jammu-based All Parties United Morcha (APUM)—a coalition of various social and political groups—observed August 5 as a “black day,” denouncing the downgrading of the state in 2019.

Pradesh Congress Committee working president Raman Bhalla, accompanied by former minister Lal Singh and Taranjit Singh Tony, utilized a crane to garland the statue of the last Dogra ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh, at Tawi bridge, located in the heart of the city. Bhalla emphasized the significance of the protest, stating, “Today’s black day protest is part of our intensified campaign under ‘Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq’ to seek restoration of pride and glory of this historic Dogra state, which was destroyed by the BJP on August 5, 2019.” His remarks highlighted the sentiment among the protesters, who feel that the BJP’s actions have undermined the region’s historical significance.

The party’s J&K chief spokesperson, Ravinder Sharma, criticized the BJP for undermining the democratically elected government, claiming that the party is running the affairs of the region through “remote control” from the office of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha. He pointed out that although assembly elections were held under the Supreme Court’s directions last year, the popular government is not allowed to function effectively. “They have lost the elections but are still running the government through the LG office, and as a result of the dual rule, the people are suffering,” he stated, expressing frustration over the current political situation.

Sharma further noted that the Supreme Court had directed the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir “as soon as possible,” yet, even after ten months of the order, the Centre remains reluctant to take action. “Our demand for restoration of full-fledged statehood under ‘Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq’ will continue to mobilize support and expose the BJP. We are now going for a chain hunger strike from August 9 to 21, hoping that the BJP will see reason and restore statehood to J&K during the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament,” he added, indicating the determination of the protesters to keep the issue alive.

In addition to the main protest, Congress staged similar demonstrations at all district headquarters across the region. However, an attempt by its workers to take out a rally in Rajouri was thwarted by police, who briefly detained MLA Iftikhar Ahmad and several others, showcasing the tensions between the protesters and law enforcement.

Meanwhile, workers of the ruling National Conference, led by provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta, organized a protest outside the party headquarters on Residency Road in Jammu. However, their march was also interrupted when police stopped them, forcing the protesters to return to the party office. This reflects the challenges faced by political parties in expressing their dissent in the current climate.

PDP workers also raised their voices in a demonstration outside their party headquarters in the Gandhi Nagar area of the city, further illustrating the widespread discontent among various political factions regarding the current governance of Jammu and Kashmir. The collective protests signify a growing demand for the restoration of statehood and a return to a more autonomous governance structure, as the people of Jammu and Kashmir continue to seek recognition and respect for their historical and cultural identity.