J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that representatives of civil society have extended support to National Conference’s proposed July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi for statehood restoration, saying that all regional parties will also be invited.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, CM Omar said around 170 representatives from different sections of society, including religious leaders, traders, educationists, retired bureaucrats and tourism stakeholders, attended a meeting that lasted nearly three hours.
“It was not a delegation but a meeting of the civil society. Everyone, without exception, stressed that the restoration of statehood has already been delayed for too long and should not be denied any further,” he said, as per a news agency.The Chief Minister said the meeting adopted a resolution urging the Centre to restore statehood and they also supported the proposed protest at Jantar Mantar.
He also said invitations are being sent to all political parties in Jammu and Kashmir. “National Conference president Farooq Abdullah will also invite leaders of the INDIA bloc as well as regional parties. We hope they will join us and support this protest,” he said.
On being askeed about reports that 1,544 schools in Jammu and Kashmir are functioning with a single teacher, CM Omar said the figures were based on an old report, not the current situation and the government would provide updated figures in the Assembly.The Chief Minister also said Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to him about the weather situation after heavy rainfall affected parts of the Chenab Valley and Kathua.“The Home Minister called to enquire about the situation. I briefed him, and he assured all possible assistance,” he said.
Pertinently, a gathering of 150 prominent members of civil society on Tuesday adopted a resolution in Srinagar pressing the Centre to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The National Conference had invited civil society members comprising trade unions, religious leaders, and prominent individuals to the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on the banks of Dal Lake to build momentum ahead of its proposed protest in New Delhi for the restoration of statehood on July 20.
This is the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 and the downgrading of Jammu & Kashmir state into two union territories that civil society has passed a resolution for the restoration of statehood. New Delhi has maintained that statehood will be restored at an appropriate time, with the Jammu & Kashmir government earlier submitting a resolution to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for speeding up its restoration.
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