JAMMU, Jul 10: Mission Statehood Jammu and Kashmir has announced a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20, demanding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. The announcement was made by Mission Statehood President Sunil Dimple, who said the organisation has passed a resolution to intensify its campaign for the restoration of the erstwhile state’s constitutional status.
Addressing the media, Dimple said he would undertake a four-day visit to New Delhi ahead of the protest to apprise Members of Parliament and people across the country about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir following its reorganisation into a Union Territory. He said the organisation would raise its demand for the restoration of statehood and also seek the restoration of Article 370.
Dimple expressed disappointment over what he described as the lack of unity among political parties on the issue of restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. He alleged that despite public assurances, political parties have failed to present a united front on the matter, which, according to him, has weakened the movement.
Claiming that Mission Statehood had initiated the struggle for the restoration of statehood and pursued the matter up to the Supreme Court, Dimple said the apex court had observed that statehood should be restored at the earliest. He maintained that the organisation would continue its campaign until the demand is fulfilled.
Announcing the July 20 demonstration, Dimple gave a call of “Chalo Jantar Mantar”, urging people from both the Jammu and Kashmir regions to participate in large numbers. He appealed to traders, transporters, students, civil society organisations, social groups, chambers of commerce, bar associations, and various community organisations, including Rajput Sabha, Khatri Sabha and Brahman Sabha, to join the protest.
He also appealed to political parties, including the Congress, National Conference, People’s Democratic Party and other regional parties, to come together on a common platform for the restoration of statehood, saying political differences should be set aside until the objective is achieved.
Criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Dimple alleged that the party had failed to fulfil its commitment regarding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. He demanded that the Prime Minister introduce a Bill in the forthcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.