Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah sits near a police barricade holding a placard that reads "Restore Rights and Dignity of People of J&K" as he being stopped from getting to Jantar Mantar to protest demanding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood, outside the Parliament Police Station in New Delhi
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Placards demanding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s rights, slogans and an autorickshaw ride by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah marked a protest in the national capital on Monday as the National Conference stepped up its demand for the restoration of statehood to the region.The protest, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, drew dozens of party legislators, its MPs and senior leaders.Carrying placards reading “Restore rights and dignity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir”, the protesters marched towards Jantar Mantar but were stopped by police before reaching the designated protest site.Speaking to reporters, CM Abdullah said the demonstration was aimed at reminding the central government of its commitment to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.“We have come here to remind the central government that it had promised both in Parliament and before the Supreme Court that statehood would be restored to Jammu and Kashmir immediately after the elections. The Supreme Court also said it should be restored at the earliest. If they do not want to honour the Supreme Court’s order, they should say so categorically,” he said.“Appropriate time”Abdullah said the Centre had repeatedly told them that statehood would be restored at an “appropriate time”, but had never explained what constituted an appropriate time.He said they come to the national capital to peacefully protest for their democratic rights but were prevented from doing so.Abdullah alleged that police used tear gas against the protesters when they attempted to march towards the Constitution Club.Abdullah took an autorickshaw from Jantar Mantar, accompanied by his two sons, saying his walk was drawing supporters and was about to turn into another procession. He said he wanted to reach the Constitution Club but was unable to do so, where National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and Left leaders D Raja and M A Baby addressed the gathering. Abdullah had returned to Jammu on Sunday after cutting short a visit to New Delhi to review the situation in the flood-hit districts of Rajouri and Poonch. He flew back to the national capital on Monday to participate in the protest.The demonstration was also attended by leaders of the Congress and Left parties.The protest was announced last month after Abdullah held a meeting with National Conference legislators and ministers at Dachigam in Srinagar, where the party decided to stage a demonstration in the national capital on the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session to press for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.The National Conference also organised similar protests at district headquarters across the Kashmir Valley. Party leaders and workers gathered in north and south Kashmir, raising slogans and demanding the restoration of statehood.On August 5, 2019, the central government revoked the special constitutional status of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and reorganised it into two federally administered union territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.The restoration of statehood has since remained one of the principal demands of regional political parties.Published on July 20, 2026
