JAMMU, Jul 17: Mission Statehood president Sunil Dimple on Friday left for a four-day visit to New Delhi after paying tributes and seeking blessings at the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh at Maharaja Hari Singh Park. Accompanied by Mission Statehood activists, Dimple said his visit is aimed at intensifying the campaign for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
Addressing media persons before his departure, Dimple said he would lead a protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20, demanding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and Article 370. He urged the Prime Minister to introduce a Bill during the forthcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament to restore statehood. He also reiterated demands related to the implementation of the Instrument of Accession conditions and the State Subject system.
Dimple said he would meet senior Supreme Court lawyers to discuss legal options regarding the delay in restoring statehood and Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. He added that he would also meet Chief Ministers, Members of Parliament and other national leaders to seek their support for raising the issue in Parliament.
He further said he would observe a hunger strike in support of Sonam Wangchuk’s demands and would also highlight the issue of rising unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir during the Jantar Mantar protest.
Appealing to all political parties to participate in the July 20 protest, Dimple criticised the BJP and its affiliated organisations, alleging that they had failed to protect the identity and legacy of the erstwhile Dogra State. He claimed that the movement launched by Mission Statehood on August 5, 2019, has now grown into a mass campaign and vowed to continue the struggle until the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
Among those accompanying him were Dev Raj, Mukesh, Vicky, Rakesh, Manzoor, Naginder Chowdhry, Rocky Kapoor, Ashok Kumar, Happy and other Mission Statehood workers.