The ruling National Conference has called on INDIA bloc leaders to join a July 20 protest in New Delhi for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir statehood.
The National Conference urged leaders from the INDIA bloc and other regional parties on July 10 to unite for the protest at Jantar Mantar on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. NC president Farooq Abdullah had written letters the previous day to figures including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, M.K. Stalin, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, Lalu Prasad and Sharad Pawar.
NC legislator Tanvir Sadiq said the effort was about reclaiming constitutional rights rather than party politics. The party also sought support from PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti, J&K BJP president Sat Sharma and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
PDP said its Political Affairs Committee would discuss the invitation. Mirwaiz described sincere efforts for rights restoration as the need of the hour and called for inclusion of issues such as political prisoners and lasting peace. Apni Party chairman Altaf Bukhari stressed that development should not be halted over the statehood demand.
BJP leader Sunil Sharma announced a separate J&K-wide agitation on employment the same day, accusing the NC government of misleading the public and stating that statehood would be restored through Parliament.
