– Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi: The Congress party staged a strong protest at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday, demanding the immediate return of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The protest targeted the 2019 decision that revoked J&K’s autonomy and split it into two Union Territories.
Congress leaders said they will raise the issue in both Houses during the ongoing Monsoon Session. Senior leader K.C. Venugopal said, “This is the first time in India’s history that a state has been downgraded to a Union Territory. It is unacceptable and undemocratic.”
He stressed that the demand is not just about statehood but also about upholding the Constitution and restoring the dignity of the people. Citing the Pahalgam terror attack, Venugopal said, “Even the Lieutenant Governor admits to security failures. Unelected administrators cannot replace elected governments.”
He stated that the people of J&K need an elected Assembly and a voice in governance. “Parliament’s promises to the region must be kept,” he said.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi supported the protest and expressed solidarity with Congress leaders and workers from J&K.
“Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq”
The protest was led by PCC President Tariq Hameed Karra, CLP Leader G.A. Mir, and AICC General Secretary Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain. Over 500 Congress workers from J&K came to Delhi despite facing long travel and tight security.
Slogans like “Delhi Chalo” and “Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq” echoed through the protest. Placards read “Loktantra Bahal Karo,” “Statehood Wapas Karo,” and “Jammu Kashmir Ke Saath Nyaay Karo.”
Speeches demanded the end of bureaucratic rule and a return to democracy. Leaders called for full restoration of J&K’s statehood and urged that Ladakh be included in the Sixth Schedule for greater autonomy.
These demands will be raised in the current Parliament session. The Jantar Mantar protest followed earlier demonstrations in Srinagar and Jammu.
On Sunday in Jammu, police detained Congress leaders Tariq Hameed Karra and G.A. Mir during a statehood protest. Still, hundreds of workers continued demonstrating against BJP’s policies.
In Srinagar, a similar protest took place on Saturday. Congress leaders addressed a large crowd before being surrounded by security forces.
Nearly six years after Article 370 was abrogated, Congress continues to fight for the region’s rights. The move, which split J&K into two Union Territories, was praised by the BJP as historic. But critics and many Kashmiris see it as a betrayal of democracy and federalism.
As the Monsoon Session continues, Congress has vowed not to let the issue fade. With ground protests and parliamentary pressure, the demand for statehood is back in national focus — raising deep questions about democracy, dignity, and India’s federal structure.
