09-10-2023 : JKPCC President Vikar Rasool Wani has called upon senior leaders and functionaries of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), including former Ministers, ex-legislators, DCC presidents, members of frontal organizations, and block-level representatives, to participate in a planned joint peaceful dharna (sit-in protest) alongside other opposition parties and like-minded social organizations. The purpose of this dharna, scheduled for Tuesday, October 10, is to advocate for the restoration of democracy and address pressing issues affecting the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a gathering of senior party members, DCC presidents, corporators, and frontal organizations at the PCC office, Vikar Rasool Wani, along with working president Raman Bhalla, stressed the importance of party leaders and workers coming together to convey a united message from the opposition. This message seeks the immediate reinstatement of democracy and the protection of constitutional rights for the residents of Jammu and Kashmir.
Wani emphasized that the people of the region have endured the rule of bureaucracy for over five years, with the Governor’s administration asserting that over 80% of the population in Jammu and Kashmir does not desire elections and is content with the existing government. In response to this narrative, the united opposition aims to use this peaceful dharna as a means to strongly convey that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are eager for the prompt return of democracy and the restoration of their elected government.
Working president Raman Bhalla echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the people are urgently calling for Assembly elections, as well as other elections such as Urban Local Bodies (ULB) and Panchayats, to be held on time without any delays. He stressed that the demand for the swift reinstatement of democracy and the restoration of democratic rights and statehood is unanimous among the people of Jammu and Kashmir, transcending ideology, religion, or regional differences.
Chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma provided insight into the preparations and consultations undertaken with like-minded political parties and organizations such as the National Conference (NC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), CPI(M), Shiv Sena, IDP, and others. These parties are united in their goal of expediting the restoration of democracy and democratic rights. He noted that senior leaders from all these parties and their supporters would participate in the symbolic peaceful dharna, scheduled to commence at 10:30 AM.
The meeting was attended by senior leaders including Yogesh Sawhney, Vinod Sharma, Trilok Singh Bahwa, Ved Mahajan, Rajnish Sharma, KC Bhagat, Hari Singh Chib, Pankaj Dogra, Shiv Kumar Sharma, and others, demonstrating the broad-based support for the cause of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir.