Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah on Monday alleged that the Centre prevented his party from holding a peaceful protest in the national capital, claiming NC leaders and workers were met with tear gas while seeking to demonstrate for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
Addressing the media, Omar said around 100 NC leaders and workers had travelled to New Delhi to hold a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar but were not allowed to do so.
“We wanted to protest peacefully, but they made us a target of tear gas. Democracy is being strangled,” he said.
Omar said the party had come to the national capital to remind the Centre of its promise to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood after the Assembly elections, a commitment he said was made in Parliament and before the Supreme Court.
He also referred to the Supreme Court’s direction to restore statehood “as soon as possible” and said if the Centre had no intention of doing so, it should state its position clearly.
“If they do not want to adhere to the Supreme Court’s directions, they should say so openly. We will then decide our course of action,” he said.
The National Conference has been pressing for the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, calling it essential for democratic governance and constitutional rights.
