Srinagar, Jul 10: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said the National Conference (NC) is awaiting permission to hold its proposed protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20, the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session, to press for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
The NC has invited 52 political and religious leaders from across the country to join the sit-in demonstration.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, Abdullah said the party has been trying to secure permission for the protest for the past several days.
“On the 20th, a programme is to take place, if we get permission for it. We are trying to get the permission,” he said.
Alleging attempts to disrupt the party’s plans, Abdullah claimed that some people had changed their protest dates to coincide with the NC programme. Without naming anyone, he said the party had been waiting for approval for four to five days.
On the suspension of four teachers in Ganderbal over alleged irregularities in Amarnath Yatra duty, the Chief Minister said the matter falls within the jurisdiction of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board and reiterated that the elected government does not interfere in the management of the pilgrimage.
“Our role is to support the yatra. Every department has responsibilities in ensuring its smooth conduct, and we are fulfilling those,” he said, adding that the Tourism Department plays a key coordinating role, including fund allocation and administrative support.
Highlighting the potential of religious tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said the region is home to shrines, mosques, gurudwaras, temples, churches and Buddhist stupas, making it an important destination for pilgrims of all faiths.
He noted that this year’s Amarnath Yatra has witnessed a higher-than-expected turnout, with the number of pilgrims exceeding registrations, making it challenging for the Shrine Board to adhere to the Supreme Court-prescribed cap on yatris.
Referring to the Kheer Bhawani Mela, Abdullah said participation had increased significantly this year, with around 10,000 devotees staying overnight and more than 30,000 visiting during the day. He added that the government also supports renovation and infrastructure projects at religious sites wherever required.
On climate change, Abdullah described it as a global challenge, saying environmental degradation was largely driven by industrialised nations during their development.
He stressed that climate change is a reality and pointed to the early melting of the Amarnath ice Shivling as one of its visible effects.
Expressing hope over tourism revival, Abdullah said the destinations closed after last year’s Pahalgam terror attack are likely to reopen once the Amarnath Yatra concludes and security forces deployed for the pilgrimage are redeployed elsewhere. He recalled that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier assured him that the tourist spots would be reopened during the summer season.
BJP terms NC’s proposed protest theatrics: Sunil
Srinagar, Jul 10 : Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Sunil Sharma on Friday dubbed the ruling National Conference’s proposed protest at Jantar Mantar over the statehood issue as an “eye-wash”, saying the government was trying to “hide its failures” through such “theatrics”.
However, addressing a press conference here, the LoP said the BJP will not participate in the protest. “They have come up with new theatrics to hide their failures. I fail to understand why the people of J-K get attracted to their theatrics. They have enacted so many dramas for the last three generations. Now the third generation is enacting a drama at the Jantar Mantar. This is an eye-wash. You are indulging in corruption in the name of statehood,” he charged.
The BJP leader said it was unfortunate that when people seek answers, the government says they will go to Jantar Mantar and seek statehood.
Asserting that the statehood will come through Parliament and not via Jantar Mantar, Sharma said his party will not participate in the proposed protest.
“Why should we go to Jantar Mantar? With whom should we go? With these impostors, these thugs, these thieves, these corrupt people? They are taking those people along who used to speak the language of separatism, who have caused bloodshed in Kashmir. The BJP rejects such thieves, looters, and murders,” Sharma said.
Referring to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s announcement on August 15 last year of a signature campaign in support of statehood restoration, he said, “A year has passed, does he remember that?”
Sharma said the BJP will start a “mass campaign” along with youth of J-K against the government’s “job outsourcing” policy. “We will begin this movement with civil secretariat gherao. We will launch an agitation from Kashmir and will take it to every corner to seek justice for the youth,” he said. He asked the government to rollback the policy.
