Hundreds of protesters, led by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, gathered in New Delhi on Monday to demand the restoration of statehood to the region, nearly seven years after it was revoked.
The demonstration, organized by the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC), took place at Jantar Mantar but was soon disrupted after authorities denied permission for the protest. Abdullah later said police blocked the gathering and used force, including tear gas, as protesters attempted to continue their march.
“This is only the beginning of our struggle, for our rights, our dignity, and everything that was taken from us,” Abdullah said, accusing the central government of failing to honor its promises, according to GK News.
In a symbolic move, Abdullah traveled to the protest site in an auto rickshaw, joined by senior party leader Farooq Abdullah and other supporters. The protest aimed to press New Delhi to restore statehood, which was removed in August 2019 when the government revoked Article 370 and reorganized the region into two federally controlled territories Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Abdullah said his party had repeatedly raised the issue through official channels, including in parliament and before the Supreme Court, but had seen little progress. He argued that the restoration of statehood should be the first step, followed by the return of the region’s special constitutional status.
“We were forced to come to Delhi to demand what is rightfully ours,” he said. “Even here, we are not being allowed to protest peacefully. Democracy is being strangled.”
The Indian government has maintained that statehood will be restored at an “appropriate time,” though it has not provided a clear timeline. Leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, criticized the protest, calling it an attempt to divert attention from governance issues in the region.
The latest protest reflects growing political pressure around the status of Jammu and Kashmir, as regional leaders continue to push for the restoration of rights and autonomy promised in the past.
