Jammu, Jul 25: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra Friday demanded a special session of J&K Assembly to discuss the issue of delay in granting statehood and devise a common strategy to fight for its restoration at the earliest.
This was stated by him while talking to reporters at the Railway Station Jammu here late Friday evening after his arrival from New Delhi by Vande Bharat train.
In reply to questions regarding the statement of some top NC leaders over the issue of statehood, Karra said, “Congress is in alliance with NC although not part of government but it was an invitation to all including those who are not our allies to join the movement.” “NC is running the government and adopting its own modes to seek statehood. The appropriate forum for discussing such sensitive issues is the coordination committee, for which we have been waiting for nine months,” he quipped.
Karra said, “We have been on the streets for over six months carrying the demand for restoration of statehood to every nook and corner of Jammu and Kashmir. We’ve slowly intensified it. We gave the call for Srinagar Chalo, then Jammu Chalo and then Delhi Chalo, continuously notifying it through media briefings appealing to all political, social, trade and other organizations to support the struggle.”
He stated that the first phase of struggle reached Delhi and the entire campaign was very impressive and successful especially the Delhi Chalo call where the party held an impressive protest demonstration and marched towards Parliament however stopped.
“But it was joined by our senior national leadership on the directions of LOP Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, attracting the attention of the entire nation regarding the denial of our legitimate demand by the BJP government, despite repeated promises,” Karra said.
He thanked the party leaders and workers for their wholehearted participation in the first phase of struggle. “The movement has just started and the further course of action will be announced shortly after consultations with senior party colleagues,” he said.
Meanwhile, JKPCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, through a post on ‘X’, also described the killing of a youth allegedly in Police firing as shocking and unfortunate and demanded an impartial probe into the incident.
“The incident of killing of a tribal youth in Phalain Mandal Satwari in alleged Police firing is very shocking and unfortunate. The government must hold a fair and impartial enquiry and the law must take its course. Our deep sympathies with the family,” Sharma posted.
