Congress holds hunger strike in Jammu demanding statehood

The Jammu and Kashmir Congress, led by its president Tariq Hameed Karra, held a hunger strike in Jammu on Sunday, demanding the restoration of statehood to J&K. The protest is part of an ongoing agitation that began in Srinagar on Saturday and is scheduled to continue until August 21.

Karra, along with several senior Congress leaders, including former ministers, legislators, and District Congress Committee presidents from the Jammu region, participated in the chain hunger strike. The protest commenced at the Tawi Bridge, near the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh.

A large number of Congress workers and leaders gathered at the venue at 10 am, where they garlanded the statue and raised slogans in support of statehood under the campaign “Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq”.

The hunger strike continued until the evening. However, the venue had to be relocated after the administration denied permission to erect a tent on the Tawi Bridge. The organisers had also requested permission to set up a tent at Shaheedi Chowk Park, opposite the Congress office, but this was also rejected. Consequently, the Congress leaders staged a peaceful sit-in on the footpath outside the party office.

Tensions rose when police officials, led by the SHO City, engaged in heated arguments with Karra and other senior leaders. According to a statement issued by the Congress, Karra urged party workers to remain calm and prevented the situation from escalating further.

Several senior Congress leaders criticised the police administration, alleging misbehaviour towards the peaceful protestors, including Karra.

Addressing the gathering, Karra reaffirmed the Congress party’s resolve to continue the agitation until statehood is restored. “This is a matter of our identity, status, dignity and rights. Without statehood, the BJP-led Central government continues to govern J&K by remote control, despite the presence of an elected government,” he said.

J&K Congress working president Raman Bhalla also criticised the BJP for “downgrading the historic Dogra state” and denying statehood for more than six years. He accused the BJP of ruling J&K by proxy and maintaining control over the law and order machinery.

Former MP Choudhary Lal Singh condemned the administration’s approach towards what he described as a peaceful protest by the country’s oldest political party for the rights of the people.