Jammu, Jul 19: Dozens of Congress leaders and workers were detained in Jammu on Sunday after police stopped their march to the Lieutenant Governor’s residence, where they intended to submit a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu seeking the immediate restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The protest, led by Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra, began with a sit-in at Maharaja Hari Singh Park, where hundreds of party workers raised slogans demanding the restoration of statehood.
Police erected barricades at Jewel Chowk to prevent the procession from moving towards Lok Bhavan. A brief scuffle broke out when protesters attempted to cross the barricades, following which several Congress leaders and activists were taken into preventive custody.
Those detained included JKPCC chief Tariq Hameed Karra, AICC General Secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Working President Raman Bhalla, and several former ministers and legislators.
Addressing the media before the march, Karra said the Congress had been campaigning for the restoration of statehood for nearly two years through district-level programmes, hunger strikes and public outreach campaigns under the slogans “Chalo Srinagar”, “Chalo Jammu” and “Chalo Delhi”.
He said the party would intensify its agitation with another round of district-level programmes and was also considering a long march from Lakhanpur in Kathua to Lolab in north Kashmir.
Karra also urged the Centre to announce a comprehensive rehabilitation package for the victims of the recent flash floods in Rajouri and Poonch, which caused widespread loss of life and property.
AICC General Secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had participated in the Assembly elections with the expectation that statehood would be restored, but nearly two years later there had been no progress on the promise.
He also welcomed all political efforts supporting the demand for statehood, including the National Conference’s proposed protest in New Delhi, while alleging that the BJP’s planned demonstrations in Srinagar were aimed at diverting attention from the issue.
The Congress reiterated that it would continue its peaceful campaign until full statehood is restored to Jammu and Kashmir.
