Jammu and Kashmir National Conference to protest in Delhi for statehood restoration

The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) has instructed all its legislators and MPs to travel to New Delhi by July 19 for a planned sit‑in at Jantar Mantar on July 20. The demonstration is timed to coincide with the opening of Parliament’s Monsoon Session and aims to pressure the central government to restore full statehood to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

NC chief minister and vice‑president Omar Abdullah said the party will proceed with the protest even if official permission is denied, underscoring its commitment to “snatched rights”. He also noted that parties and separatist leaders have been invited, with limited support: CPI(M) expressed backing, while many major national parties have kept their distance. NC MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi announced he would not join, and migrant Kashmiri Pandits have scheduled a parallel protest demanding rehabilitation before statehood.

The NC hopes the peaceful rally will draw wider political attention to the demand for restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s full state status, a promise it says remains unfulfilled by the Centre.