Srinagar, July 10: Senior Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir on Friday said all parties in the INDIA bloc should participate in the National Conference’s proposed protest in New Delhi seeking the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, describing the issue as one that concerns the people rather than any single political party.
Talking to news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), Mir said the restoration of statehood was not the personal agenda of any party but was in the larger interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Congress, being the single largest party in the INDIA bloc, should also participate,” he said.
Responding to a question on the National Conference’s absence from an earlier Congress protest on the same issue, Mir said that should not become a reason for Congress to stay away now.
“The NC did not participate that time. That does not mean we should remain behind. I believe all parties should participate in the NC’s invitation,” he said.
Mir said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had been compelled to call for protests because Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not fulfilled his assurance on restoring statehood.
“The Prime Minister had said statehood would be restored at the earliest. Had he kept his own words, there would have been no need for protests,” Mir said.
He also claimed that while Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra had received an invitation for the protest, he had not.
“Tariq Hameed Karra has been invited, but my name is not there. I hope the NC clears the matter by tomorrow,” he added. (KINS)
