JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Congress has announced a series of protests starting this week, including a ‘Chalo Delhi’ campaign, as part of its renewed push for the restoration of statehood to the Union Territory. The party also plans a symbolic gherao of Parliament during the upcoming Monsoon Session.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, J&K Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra asserted that restoring statehood was “impossible” without Congress’ intervention, which he said is backed by 233 MPs from the INDIA bloc.
“We will hold a protest in Kashmir on July 19 and in Jammu on July 20 to send a strong message to the Centre. On July 21, we will begin our ‘Chalo Delhi’ campaign,” Karra said.
As part of this campaign, party workers from every district and block across J&K will travel to Delhi under Congress’ leadership. Once in the capital, Congress members along with INDIA bloc leaders will raise the demand for statehood both inside and outside Parliament. The Monsoon Session is scheduled to begin on July 21.
“Our aim is to hold demonstrations near Parliament and symbolically gherao it to ensure our voice reaches all MPs. Among them, 233 are from the INDIA bloc, which supports our cause. This is a crucial step in our movement,” he added.
Karra said the campaign marks the beginning of a broader, sustained movement led by the Congress, stretching from Kashmir to Delhi. “With our INDIA bloc allies, we will raise this issue both on the streets and in Parliament,” he said.
Responding to National Conference leader Omar Abdullah’s appreciation for Congress taking up the issue, Karra said the party had led the movement from the grassroots. “This struggle has not been limited to drawing rooms or press releases. Congress has consistently worked on the ground. Without our involvement, restoring statehood would not be possible,” he said.
He pointed out that the Congress has 100 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 50 in the Rajya Sabha and has full support from allies. “The letter sent by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge represents the collective strength of 233 INDIA bloc MPs—a powerful voice in Parliament,” he said.
On the legal route, Karra noted that after the Supreme Court upheld the Centre’s decision on Article 370, the party decided to focus solely on achieving the restoration of statehood. “When the National Conference introduced a bill on this in the Assembly, we made our position clear. Since the court has ruled, our practical and constitutional demand now is statehood,” he said.
He also criticised the current dual control system under the Lieutenant Governor, calling it detrimental to J&K’s development. “This arrangement has only caused confusion and stagnation. We are mobilising people at the block and district levels to turn this into a people’s movement,” Karra said.
Asked about the demand for restoring special status under Article 370, he reiterated that the party’s official stance is now solely focused on statehood. “The Supreme Court has already declared the government’s move as legal, and we respect that. So our demand is limited to full statehood,” he said.
Karra thanked Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge for championing J&K’s cause in Parliament. “From the grassroots to the top leadership, Congress is united on this issue. Sadly, the BJP continues to ignore the genuine aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
In a joint letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, Kharge and Gandhi urged the government to introduce a bill in the upcoming Monsoon Session granting full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. They also called for legislation to include Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
