Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday stated that the National Conference's plan to stage a protest in New Delhi on the first day of Parliament's monsoon session remains unchanged, emphasizing the need to fulfill the promise of restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Protest Plans Unchanged
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah confirmed that the party is committed to its proposed demonstration in the national capital. The National Conference had earlier announced the protest, urging constituents of the INDIA bloc to join in demanding statehood restoration.
“First of all, there is no change in that plan. We still have a strong intention to hold a protest on the first day of the monsoon session for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. The promise made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the Supreme Court, Parliament and various public forums must be honoured. We will go to Delhi to remind the Government of that commitment,” he said.
Discussions with PM Modi
Referring to his recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Abdullah noted that statehood was among the key issues discussed. He expressed hope that the dialogue would benefit the region.
“I spoke to the Prime Minister on various issues, including the restoration of statehood, the financial position of Jammu and Kashmir and measures to accelerate development in the Union Territory. I hope the people of Jammu and Kashmir will benefit from these discussions,” he added.
Reservation Review File
On the reservation review file, the Chief Minister stated that the matter would be resolved within a few days after the Cabinet completes the necessary formalities. He explained that the Cabinet Sub-Committee's report was approved and sent to the Lieutenant Governor, who then forwarded it to the Centre. The Central Government sought clarifications, and the department has prepared responses. A Cabinet meeting will be convened to approve the revised report before it is sent back to the Centre.
Hope for US-Iran Deal
Abdullah also expressed hope that the agreement to end the US-Iran war holds until the formal signing of the accord, scheduled for Friday in Switzerland. He noted that the details of the peace deal remain unknown to the public, but expressed optimism for a permanent end to the conflict and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. He also emphasized the need to address the losses suffered by Iran during the strikes.
