Congress slams BJP over delay in J&K statehood, threatens agitation

In a stern message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government over the delay in restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress said on Tuesday that such treatment has hurt the “soul of India” and done “injustice to the nationalistic people of Kashmir,” while warning of agitation if the demand is not met.

The party leaders from J&K converged at Jantar Mantar here. Along with the national leadership, they chanted slogans: “Humaree riyasat, humara haq; Humaree zameenain humara haq…hum lekee raheingai statehood, cheen ke leingai statehood”. They urged the government to restore the erstwhile state's statehood back, while warning that agitation will continue in case the promised demand by PM Modi himself is not met forthwith.

Addressing the Congress supporters amid heavy downpour, the party’s national general secretary KC Venugopal said it is for the first time that PM Modi had downgraded the state to UT in India’s history.

“J&K is not just a state; it is the heart, in fact the soul of India,” Venugopal said, drawing cheers from his party cadre from J&K.

Targeting PM Modi, he said, “You have insulted the people of J&K by turning it into a Union Territory. What wrong have the people of J&K done to you that you would subject them to this insult?”

Referring to the recent Pahalgam terror attack, he said, “Kashmiri people stood with India. We saw that during Pahalgam. We saw that they are nationalistic. You have cheated them.”

He also called out the government over delay in granting back statehood to J&K, saying, “After so many agitations you did elections. You made a promise of statehood. PM Modi himself made this promise.... but nothing happened. Again you cheated the people of J&K. So, Narendra Modi, we are not going to allow you to continue this in J&K.”

He also said the Congress will continue its agitation in case the government doesn’t grant back statehood to J&K.

MP and veteran Congress leader Digvijay Singh in his address said injustice has been done to the people of J&K. “During every election the PM and HM make this promise that statehood would be restored in J&K, which turns out to be a lie. Why are they delaying it? Statehood should be granted to J&K in this session,” he said, while he also batted for sixth schedule to Ladakh UT.

MP and Congress leader Imran Pratapgarhi also took a poetic jibe at the PM, saying the “…spring will be back soon”.

The protest was led by J&K PCC president Tariq Karra along with several prominent party leaders, including GM Mir and national leadership including Venugopal, Pratapgarhi, MP Imran Masood, J&K in-charge Naseer Hussain, senior leader Rajni Patil and IYC president Uday Chib present on the occasion.