SRINAGAR 17 Jul : The ruling National Conference (NC) on Friday said it will go ahead with its planned visit to New Delhi to press for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, even though permission to hold the proposed protest at Jantar Mantar has not yet been granted.
Addressing reporters in Srinagar, NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said the party remained hopeful that the authorities would allow the demonstration, noting that similar protests had been permitted at the venue in the past.
“We will leave for Delhi regardless, and we hope permission will be granted,” Sadiq said.
He said the restoration of statehood was an issue that went beyond political affiliations and concerned every resident of Jammu and Kashmir.
Calling for a united political response, Sadiq said the NC had invited leaders of various political parties, including the BJP, as well as civil society organisations, to join the campaign.
“This is not an issue of one political party. It concerns the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and we want it to become a collective movement,” he said.
He added that the National Conference would announce the detailed schedule of its Delhi programme on Saturday.
The National Conference, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and party president Farooq Abdullah, has announced a protest sit-in at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20 to demand the immediate restoration of full statehood and constitutional guarantees for Jammu and Kashmir.
