Farooq Abdullah Says NC Won’t Invite Parties to Statehood Agitation, Participation Voluntary

SRINAGAR, Jun 11: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said his party will not approach political parties in Jammu and Kashmir to seek support for its proposed protest in New Delhi demanding the restoration of statehood to the Union Territory.

Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah made it clear that any organisation or individual willing to participate in the demonstration is welcome to do so, but the National Conference will not actively solicit support from political groups for the event.

The protest, announced by the National Conference, is scheduled to be held in the national capital on the opening day of the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament. The party has been pressing for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, a demand it has repeatedly raised at political and constitutional forums since the reorganisation of the erstwhile state in 2019.

Abdullah said the issue of statehood transcends party lines and enjoys broad support across the political spectrum in Jammu and Kashmir. According to him, there is little disagreement among regional political forces on the need for the restoration of full statehood.

His remarks come days after Chief Minister and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah appealed to constituents of the INDIA bloc to extend support to the planned protest, describing statehood restoration as a matter of democratic rights and public interest.

Responding to questions on whether Jammu and Kashmir could also regain its special constitutional status in the future, the veteran leader said such decisions ultimately rest with those holding authority at the national level. However, he stressed that the National Conference remains committed to pursuing the issue through democratic and constitutional means.

Abdullah asserted that his party has consistently raised concerns over the changes brought about in Jammu and Kashmir and will continue to advocate for what it considers the region’s legitimate constitutional and political rights.

He said peaceful protest and democratic expression are protected rights and maintained that the party would continue its campaign through lawful and constitutional methods. The National Conference leadership has repeatedly stated that its political agenda includes both the restoration of statehood and the pursuit of constitutional safeguards for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The proposed Delhi demonstration is expected to be one of the party’s major political mobilisations ahead of the Parliament session and is aimed at drawing national attention to the demand for restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s status as a full-fledged state.

Political observers view the upcoming protest as part of a broader effort by regional parties to keep the issue of statehood at the centre of public and political discourse. The Centre has on several occasions stated that statehood would be restored at an appropriate time, though no specific timeline has been announced so far.

With preparations for the protest underway, the National Conference leadership has indicated that it intends to continue pressing its demands through democratic engagement and public outreach, while leaving participation open to all those who support the cause.