Jammu: Even as the Jammu and Kashmir Congress has announced its decision to join the National Conference’s proposed protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20 seeking the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the main opposition party in Kashmir, is yet to decide whether it will participate in the demonstration.
Sources in the PDP said the party leadership was still deliberating over whether to extend support to the NC’s call despite an invitation from National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah to PDP president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.
According to sources, the PDP finds itself in a politically delicate situation. While joining the protest could strengthen the broader campaign for statehood, there are concerns within the party that the National Conference may emerge as the principal beneficiary of the movement if the opposition presents a united front at Jantar Mantar.
“The party is in a state of dilemma as it is yet to take a final call. There is a feeling that if the PDP joins the protest, the NC may politically hijack the statehood movement and project itself as the sole champion of the cause,” a source said.
At the same time, party leaders are also conscious that staying away from the protest could invite criticism in Kashmir, where the restoration of statehood and Article 370 remains a key public demand.
“If the PDP does not participate, it could face uncomfortable questions in its traditional constituency about whether it genuinely supports the demand for restoration of statehood, despite having consistently raised the issue over the last few years,” the source added.
Interestingly, while Mehbooba Mufti has so far remained silent on the NC’s protest call, she has openly supported climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, where he is demanding constitutional safeguards and statehood for Ladakh, besides education reforms.
In a post on X, Mehbooba said the “distressing scenes” at Jantar Mantar, where Wangchuk was risking his life for the future of our Gen Z evoke memories of the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters to liberate India from colonial rule.
“The British may have left but the colonial mindset seems to endure. How else can one explain the indifference of a democratically elected government that remains so callous that it refuses to engage with the youth at Jantar Mantar—the very generation that will shape India’s future,” she wrote.
However, the PDP president has so far not issued any statement on whether her party will join the NC-led protest for the restoration of statehood, keeping political circles guessing over the party’s next move, though only two days have been left for the proposed protest call.
The uncertainty assumes significance after the Congress formally announced that it would participate in the July 20 protest, infusing a momentum to the NC’s campaign for the restoration of statehood.
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference in Jammu, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Tariq Hameed Karra reiterated the party’s demand for the immediate restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Karra announced that Congress workers from across the Union Territory will assemble at Hari Singh Park in Jammu on July 19, hold a sit-in protest and march to the Lieutenant Governor’s residence to submit a memorandum to the President of India seeking restoration of statehood.
He said the Congress has consistently opposed the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A and has been demanding statehood since August 2019. Referring to the party’s campaign, Karra said Congress had launched the “Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq” movement across Jammu and Kashmir through protests, hunger strikes and programmes such as Srinagar Chalo, Jammu Chalo and Delhi Chalo.
Welcoming the National Conference’s July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar, Karra said Congress would participate in the demonstration despite political differences with the NC.
“This is not a Congress movement alone. It belongs to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Whoever joins this cause is welcome,” he said.
Karra also said the party was considering a Lakhanpur-to-Lolab political yatra if the Centre continued to delay the restoration of statehood.
The ruling National Conference has invited 52 political leaders of the country within and outside INDIA Bloc including J&K’s Grand Mufti and Hurriyat Conference chairman and cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Mehbooba Mufti to join the protest at Jantar Mantar for statehood restoration to J&K on the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon session.
The party, however, was yet to get official permission for holding protest at Jantar Mantar. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has made it clear that the party would go ahead (with protest call) even if the Delhi Police deny permission for the same.
J&K Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajad Lone has announced not to participate in the protest at Jantar Mantar, saying, “the protest for statehood is an attempt to bury Article 370 and create confusion among masses”.
