Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary has said that the ruling National Conference will launch protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi if the Centre fails to fulfil its promise of restoring statehood to the Union Territory.
He then informed that during the recent cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, a key resolution was adopted on the restoration of statehood.
He warned, “If the Government of India does not fulfil its promise to Jammu and Kashmir and restore statehood, we will be compelled to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar and tell the nation that the promise made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir has not been honoured.”
The National Conference leader’s warning came on Saturday, the day thousands of people gathered at Jantar Mantar to join a protest organised by Abhishek Dipke’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over discrepancies in recent examinations, including NEET and CBSE Class 12.
The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised into two Union Territories on August 8, 2019. At the time, the government had promised to restore statehood, but seven years later, it has yet to happen.
Choudhary said the Centre has yet to fulfil the promise it made in Parliament.
He said the delay in the restoration of statehood has already impacted development and employment prospects in the region.
“Unemployment remains a major concern, development-related issues are pending, and people continue to face problems related to basic services such as water and electricity. Jammu and Kashmir is not receiving funding at the level of a full-fledged state,” Choudhary said.
“If the BJP genuinely stands with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, it should join the protest. If it does not, the people will draw their own conclusions,” he added.
Follow us
