JAMMU, Nov 6: Sunil Dimple, President of Mission Statehood, on Thursday led a protest along with hundreds of party workers against the BJP-led Union Government, demanding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, its special status and opposing the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A.
Addressing the protesters, Dimple alleged that the BJP had failed to fulfil its commitments made in Parliament and in its affidavit before the Supreme Court regarding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. He termed the restoration of the erstwhile Dogra state and its constitutional status a key demand of Mission Statehood.
Dimple welcomed National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah’s statement that the party would continue fighting for the restoration of Article 370, Article 35-A and statehood. He said the demand had been part of Mission Statehood’s vision document since August 5, 2019.
Taking aim at BJP leaders, including National Vice-President Ram Madhav, Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma and Ravinder Raina, Dimple alleged that their statements predicting the fall of the Jammu and Kashmir government had proved unfounded. He accused the BJP of repeatedly creating uncertainty by claiming that the elected government was on the verge of collapse and that its legislators were leaving the party.
Dimple said his organisation had been mobilising public support for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and special status. He warned that a Jammu and Kashmir-wide bandh call could be announced if the demands continued to remain unaddressed.
Claiming that Mission Statehood had brought a movement for the restoration of the erstwhile state’s constitutional position, he appealed to all political parties to unite on a common platform and raise their voice for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
He further alleged that the 29 BJP MLAs had remained silent on the demand for statehood and were weakening the broader demand by raising the issue of a separate Jammu state.
Dimple also reiterated Mission Statehood’s demands, including the restoration of the state subject system, cancellation of domiciles granted to outsiders, implementation of the conditions associated with the Instrument of Accession, and the unification of Ladakh and the territories of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Gilgit and Baltistan with Jammu and Kashmir.
The protest was attended by several other leaders and activists, including Roky Kapoor, Happy, Sanjeev, Vikas, Mohinder Kumar, Lichi, Tarsem Lal, Surinder Kumar and Baba Kumar, among others.