Congress party organised a protest demonstration in Jammu, today, strongly opposing the division of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories by the Narendra Modi-led Indian government.
The Modi regime after repealing the special status of IIOJK on August 05, 2019 had promulgated Jammu and Kashmir Re-Organisation Act on this day in 2019 dividing occupied Kashmir into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Led by Congress chief in IIOJK, Vikar Rasool, many party leaders and workers participated in the demonstration. The protesters demand immediate restoration of the pre-August 05, 2019 status of the occupied territory.
Addressing the protesters, Vikar Rasool said, the Congress will not silently accept the decision of August 2019. He emphasised the party’s commit-ment to reclaiming all rights that were withdrawn from occupied Kashmir after August 5, 2019.
The protest was also marked by speeches denouncing the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, asserting a firm stance against the measures taken in 2019 and vowing to restore the rights and status of IIOJK as they were before these changes were introduced.
Meanwhile, Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M) leader, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami, in a statement said that on this fateful day, occupied Jammu and Kashmir was divided into two union territories and its flag was removed from Civil Secretariat. “Can this truly be seen as a celebration or an insult to the people of the erstwhile state of J&K?” he asked.
Tarigami also raised concerns about the lack of development, job opportunities, and livelihood for the common people.
Tarigami criticized the BJP’s celebration of the day, calling it an insult to the people of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. He said, on this day, we register our strong protest against the unconstitutional moves of 05 August 2019, which resulted in downgrading occupied Jammu and Kashmir and disempowering the people of its all regions.
National Conference President, Omar Abdullah, talking to reporters in Karnah area of Kupwara said his party will do every bit to get Statehood back either before elections or afterwards.—KMS
