NC takes out massive protest march in Jammu, demands restoration of special status and statehood: Ajay Kumar Sadhotra

• August 5 a dark chapter in India's constitutional history: Rattan Lal Gupta

JAMMU:  The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Provincial President Rattan Lal Gupta today led a massive protest march in Jammu to mark the seventh anniversary of the unilateral decisions of August 5, 2019. The protest witnessed the participation of a large number of party functionaries, office bearers and heads of the party's frontal wings.

The march commenced from Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan, Jammu and culminated at Raghunath Bazaar, passing through various parts of Jammu city. Senior party leader, former minister and Additional General Secretary Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Provincial Secretary Sheikh Bashir Ahmad and Babu Rampal former minister and Central Zone President and several other senior leaders also participated in the protest march. Protesters carried placards demanding the restoration of constitutional rights, the reinstatement of Jammu and Kashmir's special status, and the immediate restoration of full-fledged statehood.

Speaking on the occasion, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra expressed serious concern over the continued delay in restoring Statehood despite repeated assurances from the Union Government.

He said that the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister had repeatedly assured the people that Statehood would be restored after the completion of the delimitation process and the conduct of Parliamentary and Assembly elections. "The delimitation exercise has long been completed, elections have been successfully held, an elected government is in office with a clear public mandate, yet the promise of restoring full-fledged Statehood remains unfulfilled. 

Addressing the gathering, Rattan Lal Gupta said that the unilateral decisions of August 5, 2019 represented a betrayal of the solemn commitments made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. "There is hardly any precedent anywhere in the world where a full-fledged State has been downgraded into a Union Territory. History has witnessed Union Territories being elevated to Statehood, but in Jammu and Kashmir, the constitutional and democratic order was turned on its head.

These far-reaching decisions were imposed without the consent or consultation of the people, striking at the very spirit of India's federal structure and democratic traditions. August 5 will always remain a dark chapter in the constitutional history of our country. Every democratic norm and constitutional convention was cast aside. Our struggle for the restoration of the constitutional rights of the people, including special status and full-fledged Statehood, will continue peacefully, constitutionally and democratically. The movement launched by the National Conference leadership in New Delhi is only the beginning, and we will pursue this democratic struggle until justice is secured."

The continued delay raises serious questions about the sincerity of the commitments made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The people deserve not further assurances but concrete action."

Among others who were present included : Bimla Luthra former MLA and State Vice President Women Wing,Bushan Lal Bhat former MLC, Vijay Lochan Chairman SC Cell, Abdul Gani Teli Chairman OBC Cell, S. Tejinder Pal Singh Provincial President Jammu YNC, Rajni Devi Working President Women Wing Jammu, Pardeep Bali, Ayub Malik Provincial Secretaries Jammu,Ghar Singh, Ankush Abrol Joint Secretaries Jammu,Th. Yashuvardhan Singh Additional Spokesperson Jammu, Harshvardhan Singh President NCSU, Nar Singh President Labour Wing, Rakesh Singh Raka Vice President Central Zone, Chander Mohan Sharma District President Jammu Urban, Subash Bhagat District President Jammu Rural “A”, Naresh Bittu District President Jammu Rural “B”, Laxmi Datta Senior leader,Dr. Shamshad Shan former DDC Chairperson Ramban and District President Gool Gulabgarh, Ch. Rehmat Ali former BDC Chairman, Rita Gupta, Dilshad Malik, Ashok Attri Vice Presidents Central Zone, Master Aslam, Dr. Vikash Sharma Secretaries Central Zone, Nadeem Choudhary District President Jammu Urban ST Cell, Mehmood Ahmad Rizvi District President Jammu Rural “A” ST Cell, Ramesh Kumar District President  Jammu Urban SC Cell, Aruna Thakur District President Ramban, Sahil Kerni District President Jammu Urban YNC, Amit Kumar District President Jammu Rural “B” YNC, D.D Mehra District President Jammu Urban OBC Cell, S. Gurnam Singh, Sewak Singh, Shabir Sambyal Vice Presidents District  Jammu Urban, Ashwani Charak Block President Jammu East, Dharminder Block President Jammu West, Bhadur Lal Block President Bhau, Thoru Ram Block President Nagrota, Madan Lal Block President Akhnoor,Devi Dyal Jogi Block Secretary Khour, Jatinder Choudhary Block President Suchetgarh, Naresh Bhagat District President Arnia,S. Balwinder Singh Block President Miran Sahib, Sukhdev Singh Block President Bhawal,Satpal Karlopia former Corporator, Shama Akthar former corporator,Jatinder Singh Lucky, Sumita Bhan, Veer Ji Bhat, B.D Dalhotra, Satpal, Raja Naveed, Thoru Ram, Rajinder Kumar,Hardeep Singh, Khajur Raj, S. Pirthpal Singh, Sandeep Singh Manhas, Ved Parkash Sharma, Jagga Ram, Nitish Gowsami Provincial Vice President YNC, Zamir Quershi, Muzamil Malik, Majid Iqbal Malik, Karan Kumar, Deep Mehra, Attal Singh, Pusp Jandial,Karan Kumar, Arti, Sahil Chib and party functionaries were also present.