Statehood protest will echo J&K people's collective will: Dy. CM Surinder Choudhary

• Says further delay in restoring statehood has adversely affected goverance 

JAMMU: Senior Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader and Deputy Chief Minister  Surinder Choudhary on Monday said that the upcoming protest in Delhi demanding the restoration of statehood would reflect the collective will of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and should compel New Delhi to honour its commitments. 

Choudhary made these remarks while addressing a party meeting at Gandhinagar in Jammu. He said the continued delay in restoring statehood has adversely affected governance, as the elected government, despite its efforts, has been unable to deliver on several fronts due to the existing administrative framework. 

"No less than the Prime Minister and the Home Minister had promised, both inside and outside Parliament that full statehood would be restored. However, it has been nearly two years since the elected government assumed office, and that promise remains unfulfilled. This has nothing to do with the performance of the government; rather, it is an affront to the collective will of the people who participated in the elections in large numbers. It amounts to denying the people their democratic rights," Choudhary said. 

He added that after the developments of 2019, the Union Government had projected a narrative of bringing Jammu and Kashmir at par with other states and Union Territories. "While other regions enjoy empowered governments, Jammu and Kashmir continues to be treated differently. Far from being placed on an equal footing with other regions, we continue to face differential treatment," he said. 

Chairing the meeting, National Conference Provincial President Rattan Lal Gupta said the party's Jammu Provincial Unit would participate wholeheartedly in the Delhi protest. He also informed that the annual death anniversary of Madar-e-Meharban Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah would be observed at Maharaja Hari Singh Park, opposite Fortune Hotel, on the banks of the River Tawi. The event will be addressed by the party's Vice President and Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah. 

Interacting with party office-bearers, Gupta said the National Conference's rank and file across Jammu Province are fully geared up for the Delhi protest to remind the BJP-led Central Government of its commitment to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. He added that extensive preparations are also underway to ensure that the death anniversary of Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah is observed on a grand scale in Jammu. 

Addressing the meeting Mr Arjun Singh Raju Hon’ble MLA Ramban assured that the decision of the high command regarding public meeting in Jammu and Protest at Delhi will be fully supported and participated. 

Among others who were present in the meeting included: Arjun Singh Raju Hon’ble MLA Ramban, Sheikh Bashir Ahmad Provincial Secretary Jammu, Dr. Chaman Lal Bhagat former MLA, Bimla luthra former MLA and State Vice President Women Wing, Sardar Tejinder Pal Singh Provincial President Jammu YNC, Rajni Devi Working President Women Wing Jammu, Pardeep Bali Provincial Secretary Jammu,Vijay Lochan Chairman SC Cell, Abdul Gani Teli Chairman OBC Cell, Rakesh Singh Raka Vice President Central Zone, Mohinder Singh former JCCB, Chander Mohan Sharma District President Jammu Urban, Subash Bhagat District President Jammu Rural “A”, Sudagar Gupta District President Samba, Sham Narian Mehta District President Kathua Rural, Ramparshotam Sharma District President Udhampur Rural, Raj Kumar Sharma District President Reasi, Mohan Kaith Rtd SSP, Arunpal Singh Working President NCSU, Hameed Choudhary Zonal President Central Zone YNC, Jugal Kishore Zonal President Udhampur Reasi Zone, Shoket Choudhary District President Samba ST Cell, Nadeem Choudhary District President Jammu Urban ST Cell, Sardar Gurnam Singh District Secretary Jammu Urban, Nitish Gowsami Vice President Provincial YNC, Kuldeep Sharma and Mohd Arif Wani.