Congress' statehood march confined to its Srinagar office; party vows to take fight to Delhi

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir administration deployed a heavy contingent of police and paramilitary forces outside the Congress headquarters in Srinagar on Saturday, preventing a planned march demanding the restoration of full statehood.

Congress’s J&K unit chief, Tariq Hameed Karra , and party general secretary G A Mir, were present at the party office to lead the march to the divisional commissioner’s office, where they intended to submit a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister. However, police sealed the main gate and barred party workers from leaving the premises.

“This is undemocratic and a sign of administrative frustration,” Karra told reporters, alleging that Congress workers from various parts of the Valley were prevented from entering Srinagar.

He added that the party would intensify its campaign during the upcoming Parliament session.

Mir criticised the Centre for failing to restore J&K’s statehood even ten months after an elected govt was formed. “The Centre has not moved an inch in this direction. Instead, they have complicated governance in J&K through a dual power structure,” he said.