Hold meeting or accept our demand, restore statehood in J&K: Congress

Ahead of the meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 24, the Congress party once again reiterated its demand for the restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir. The party also said that the abrogation of Article 370 is a direct attack on democracy and constitutional principles.

New Delhi: Congress party on Sunday once again reiterated its demand for the restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir, just ahead of the meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 24. This is the first political engagement since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. The Union Home Secretary has extended an invitation to the leaders of J&K-based political parties, including the National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, CPI(M).

When asked about the matter, Congress General Secretary and Chief Spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said: "The resolution passed by Congress Working Committee on August 6, 2019, whereby the Indian National Congress clearly demanded the restoration of full statehood for the state of Jammu and Kashmir. We believe that undoing it, is a direct attack on democracy and constitutional principles."

"INC believes that grant of full statehood to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, and also holding elections so that people are able to elect their representatives and have an Assembly of their own to carry on the affairs of the state instead of a rule by Delhi, is the only way forward to guarantee full restoration of democratic rights in Jammu and Kashmir," he further added.

As per sources, the meeting on June 24 is likely to discuss the process of redrawing constituencies in the Union Territory. This could be the first step towards conducting the Assembly elections there. Surjewala asserted, "It is now for the Prime Minister and BJP to decide whether to hold a meeting or to accept the demand of the Indian National Congress in the interest of the Constitutional democracy and the people to restore full statehood to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

While, recently, National Conference Chief Farooq Abdullah, who is also the head of Peoples Alliance for the Gupkar Agenda, had shown a willingness to engage with New Delhi, stating that amalgam will meet once a formal invitation comes from Delhi. On the other hand, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti has also called a meeting of her party's Political Affairs Committee (PAC) to take the final call on this meeting.