People stage a protest demanding the restoration of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, at Ambedkar Chowk, in Jammu, on June 27, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The ruling National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir urged INDIA bloc leaders and J&K politicians on Friday (July 10, 2026) to join the party’s July 20 protest at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament over the demands of Statehood and constitutional guarantees. Meanwhile, the BJP announced it would launch a counter set of protests across J&K over employment on the same day.
“For once, let petty politics take a back seat. As [National Conference president] Dr. Farooq Abdullah sahab has urged, let us rise above party lines and stand united for the people of Jammu & Kashmir. This is not about one party or one ideology — it is about reclaiming our genuine constitutional right: the restoration of Statehood. Let us speak with one voice. Let us stand together for Jammu & Kashmir,” said NC leader and legislator Tanvir Sadiq.
Mr. Abdullah on Thursday (July 9) wrote letters to top INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress’ Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M.K. Stalin, All India Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad, Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar among others.
The NC also sought support of Peoples Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti, J&K BJP president Sat Sharma and Kashmir chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other regional parties.
The ruling party’s invitation has drawn varied responses from local parties in the Union Territory. “Unity has always been our stand. PDP’s Political Affairs Committee will discuss the invitation before taking any decision. Our struggle is for the constitutional rights, dignity, and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and not for political interests,” said PDP spokesperson Mohit Bhan.
Need of the hour: Mirwaiz
Kashmir cleric Mirwaiz said any effort by any political alliance, organisation or individuals working for the restoration of the usurped rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, if based on sincerity, “is the need of the hour”.
“It is the foremost responsibility of the NC government towards the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who gave it a mandate on the clear promise that, once elected, it would revive the pre-2019 status of J&K, including restoration of Statehood, Article 370 and 35A. The agitation cannot be limited to the restoration of Statehood, but has to be for all the seized safeguards and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” said the Mirwaiz.
He said the protest should include the rights of political prisoners and youth languishing in jails for years “without trial or continued incarceration despite getting bail” and also for people’s longing for lasting peace and life with dignity by conflict resolution.
J&K Apni Party chairman Altaf Bukhari said Statehood cannot be an excuse for halted development. “Roads, hospitals and public infrastructure are suffering while contractors remain unpaid. The government must stop making excuses, restart development works and issue a white paper on lapsed funds. Statehood has nothing to do with the development of Kashmir being stopped,” said Mr. Bukhari.
Diverting public attention: BJP
Meanwhile, BJP leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma announced a J&K-wide agitation on the issue of employment on July 20. “There is corruption, backdoor recruitment, and the NC government was misleading the public on the issue of Statehood. The ruling party was attempting to divert public attention,” said Mr. Sharma.
He said Statehood was part of the BJP’s commitment and manifesto. “It would be restored through Parliament, not through protests at Jantar Mantar,” he added.
Published – July 10, 2026 05:11 pm IST
