Jammu, Feb 8, KNT: The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee on Sunday took out a protest rally in Jammu, raising the slogans “Our State, Our Right” and highlighting issues related to MGNREGA and the continued delay in restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The rally, led by senior Congress leaders and workers, culminated in the submission of a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner Jammu, demanding immediate fulfilment of long-pending political and developmental commitments made to the people of the Union Territory.
Addressing protesters, JKPCC president Tariq Karra said the Centre continues to hold the law and order portfolio despite repeatedly claiming that peace has returned to Jammu and Kashmir. He said if the situation is normal, there is no justification for denying full statehood to the region even after the passage of six years.
Tariq Karra said the promise of restoring statehood was made on the floor of Parliament, but has remained unfulfilled. He said everything has a limit and the Centre must realise that the demand for statehood is now coming from every house of Jammu and Kashmir.
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Senior Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir echoed similar views, stating that despite repeated assurances, the people of Jammu and Kashmir continue to be deprived of their democratic rights. He said holding on to law and order powers while claiming peace exposes the contradiction in the Centre’s stand.
The protesting leaders also raised concerns over alleged irregularities and delays in implementation of MGNREGA, saying locals dependent on the scheme are facing hardships due to delayed wages and inadequate work allocation.
The Congress leaders warned that the party would intensify its agitation if the Centre continues to ignore the genuine demands of the people, particularly the restoration of full statehood.
The protest remained peaceful, with a large presence of Congress workers from different parts of the Jammu region. [KNT]
