Congress observed black day on 6th anniversary of downgrading of J&K state

Jammu,  Aug 5- Congress today observed black day on the 6th anniversary of the downgrading of the J&K state into UT and held strong protest demonstrations & dharnas all across UT in Jammu and Srinagar and  at all district headquarters to press for early restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Congress which is spearheading the movement for the restoration of statehood ” Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq ” for the past over  eight months,  today observed black day ,on 6th anniversary of downgrading of the historical &K state & held impressive protest demonstration in Jammu and Srinagar .

JKPCC President Shri Tariq Hameed Karra led the protest demonstration in Srinagar infront of   party Office, as  Headquarters were locked from outside by police,  while in Jammu, protest dharna was held in front of the Maharaja Hari Singh ji statue on Tawi Bridge,  besides at all District HQs across UT, to press for early restoration of complete statehood.

Led by Working President Raman Bhalla alongwith Former MP/Former ministers Ch Lal Singh,   Mula Ram,  Yogesh Sawhney,Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, AICC Secretary Shah Nawaz Chaudhary, Rajnish Sharma, DDC Presidents Manmohan Singh, Th Hari Singh Chib,Ex_Legislators, senior functionaries, Ex corporators,frontal heads & contested candidates including T S Tony, Satish Sharma , Pawan Raina,Shashi Sharma ,Suresh Dogra, Vijay Sharma( Seva Dal)Anuradha Sharma, Parveen Akhtar, Ashok Bhagat, Dwarka Choudhary, Mtr  Zahida Khan , Ajaib Moton, Gajan Singh,Ajay Lakhotra( NSUI) ,Anirudh Sawhney (YC) Madan Chalotra, VirinderManhas & several others took part in the protest.

The protesters held strong protest demonstration  bearing black wadges ,raising slogans against centre government and BJP for downgrading historical Dogra state on this day and non restoration of statehood despite repeated promises and directions of Supreme Court over one & half years back.
The protesters raised slogans in the memories of Maharaja Hari Singh and garlanded his statue while invoking his legacy to demand restoration of full state to J&K UT.

Speaking to reporters Raman Bhalla lashed out at BJP govt at the centre for the betrayal of the people despite repeated promises for early restoration of statehood to J&K.
Six years ago BJP snatched statehood from people and promised early restoration but today is sixth anniversary and statehood has not been restored despite Supreme Court directions.
Congress shall intensify struggle for restoration of complete statehood  and Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq movement shall continue till we achieve the goal of full statehood.

Former Minister Mula Ram told reporters that statehood is the right of people of J&K and its snatching is arbitrary and undemocratic against which our leadership has always raised voice and we shall continue our struggle.

Ch Lal Singh lashed out BJP for its authoritarian style at the centre and said statehood is our basic right .BJP has destroyed the dogra identity, status and dignity and insulted dogra rulers, he said, adding our land, jobs & resources are being looted ruthlessly.
He said Congress shall intensify the struggle to get statehood and safeguard rights of our future generations.

Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma referred to the directions of Supreme Court in December 2023 wherein centre was directed to restore statehood as soon as possible but even after more than one year and eight months that order has not been implemented.

Protest dharnas were held all across different Districts of Jammu region and slogans were raised against centre and BJP, seeking restoration of statehood to J&K.
Senior PCC leaders were deputed by the party to Coordinate the protests in Districts also attended.

At Kathua  an impressive protest dharna was held by the District Congress committee under Presidentship of Pankaj Dogra, which was led by Senior Congress leader & former MLA Th Balwan Singh and attended by senior leaders of district.

At Samba, Protest was organized by  President DCC Samba which was led by  Smt. Indu Pawar (Ex-MLA)  & Dist. Coordinator and attended by Yash Pal Kundal (Ex-Minister, Babal Gupta, Vinod Kumar, Kumer Singh and others.

At Kishtwar Protest dharna was led by former MLC & Senior PCC  leader Naresh Gupta which was organised by DCC   Kishtwar under Presidentship of Asif Naqeeb and attended by Pyare Lal Shan, Firdous Mingnoo,Sheikh Irshad ,Naved Kichloo, Sheikh Zafferullah, PYC leader Anees and Several others attended.

At Poonch Senior Congress leader former Chairman Legislative council Jahangir Mir led a protest alongwith Dist. President  R.S. Kaka, Taj Mir, Faiz Diwan and other senior leaders.

At Udhampur, Senior Congress leader and former MLA Th Balbir Singh alongwith DCC President Udhampur Vinod Khajuria, Sumit Magotra & other held  a protest and Sit in Dharna.

At Doda, the Sit in Dharna was organized by DCC President Sheikh Mujeeb, led by Shri Dina Nath Bhagat (Ex-MLA) Dist. Coordinator and attended  by Sham Lal Bhagat(Ex-MLC), Javed Lone, Mudasar Wani, Swarn veer Singh Jaral, Mohd Shafiq and others.

At Ramban, Sit in Dharna & protest were organized by DCC President Pravez Wani, led by Ashok Dogra (ExMLA), and attended by Farooq Katoch, Khalid Wani, Pradeep Singh, and others.

 Similar protests were held at Rajouri, Reasi and other Districts also.