Before the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on July 20, Jammu and Kashmir minister Satish Sharma made appeals for the restoration of statehood, referring to promises made in the past by the Centre but not yet kept. He explained that achieving this goal is essential both for empowering the locals as well as for the benefit of India. In an interview with the media, Sharma mentioned that he wanted people from all political parties to come for the cause, as since the time when the demand was made in the House, they promised that this problem will be solved in Delhi. He pointed out that being the crown of the country, restoring the status of the state would make India stronger.
The 'Delhi Chalo' protest reflects the long-standing demand from the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) to grant statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier on July 10, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that the National Conference had not yet received permission for its July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar in the national capital. He alleged that there was an intent to sabotage the National Conference's event, pointing out that whilst other groups seemed to secure permission within 24 hours, the NC had been waiting for several days. He also claimed that certain parties had deliberately altered their own schedules to coincide with the NC's dates.
Full statehood has remained a core demand of the NC following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. The party has invited 52 leaders across various political lines to join the protest at Jantar Mantar. NC MLA Riyaz Ahmad Khan reiterated the party's position that the Centre had promised to restore statehood on the floor of the Parliament. Khan explained that following a meeting of all MLAs and MPs on June 3, it was decided that the restoration was already significantly delayed. He argued that the journey to Delhi was intended to vigorously press for this necessity, framing it as a rightful demand rather than a standard protest, given that they are seeking statehood from their own Prime Minister and country.
Khan also defended the decision to invite cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to the Jantar Mantar protest, describing him as a resident of Jammu and Kashmir and a religious scholar whose differing ideology did not preclude him from being contacted. According to a statement from the Mirwaiz's office during a gathering at the Srinagar Jama Masjid, he stated that it is the foremost responsibility of the NC government to revive the pre-2019 status of Jammu and Kashmir, including the restoration of statehood and Articles 370 and 35A, in line with the clear promise that won them their mandate.
Following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the Centre bifurcated the region into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has previously stated that statehood would be restored once the situation normalises. In 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the decision to abrogate Article 370, whilst declining to address the specific timeline for the restoration of statehood, following the Centre's submission that it would be granted in due course.
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