New Delhi, Jul 20: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday accused the authorities of preventing the National Conference from holding a peaceful protest, alleging that the party’s workers were met with tear gas while trying to press for the restoration of statehood.
Speaking to reporters, Omar said the delegation had travelled to the national capital to peacefully raise its demand and remind the Centre of its commitment to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
“We came to Delhi to seek our democratic rights, but instead of allowing a peaceful protest, we were targeted with tear gas. Democracy is being strangled,” he said.
Omar claimed that nearly 100 National Conference leaders and workers had come from Jammu and Kashmir hoping to stage a peaceful demonstration at Jantar Mantar and urge the Central government to fulfil its promise.
He said the party’s objective was to remind the Centre of the assurance it had given in Parliament and before the Supreme Court that statehood would be restored after the Assembly elections.
Referring to the Supreme Court’s observations on the issue, the Chief Minister said if the Centre was unwilling to restore statehood, it should state its position clearly. “If the government does not intend to honour that commitment, it should say so openly. We will then decide our future course of action,” Omar Abdullah said.
