Kashmir opposition leaders plan Delhi protest to demand statehood
Congress’s regional wing to march on Indian Parliament with allies, calling for end to direct federal control over Indian-administered Kashmir
SRINAGAR, Kashmir (MNTV)— The regional wing of India’s Congress Party in Indian-administered Kashmir has announced a protest campaign demanding the restoration of statehood, five years after the region was stripped of autonomy and placed under direct rule from New Delhi.
Tariq Hameed Karra, the Congress chief for Indian-administered Kashmir, said the campaign would begin with protests in Srinagar on July 19 and Jammu on July 20. The final leg, called the “Delhi Chalo” (March to Delhi), will culminate in a symbolic demonstration outside Parliament on July 21 — the opening day of India’s Monsoon legislative session.
Karra emphasized that the movement is being led locally but has the backing of 233 members of the INDIA alliance — a coalition of opposition parties united against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “Without the Congress Party’s intervention, statehood cannot be restored,” he said.
Indian-administered Kashmir has been under direct federal rule since August 2019, when the Modi government revoked Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, ending the region’s limited autonomy and downgrading it from a state to a federally controlled territory. The move was followed by widespread crackdowns, arrests, and communications blackouts.
Under the Delhi protest plan, Congress workers from across the region will travel to the capital to join allied opposition leaders in raising the demand for statehood both inside and outside Parliament. “This is a symbolic encirclement of Parliament to make sure our voice is heard,” Karra said.
Responding to remarks by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who thanked Congress for raising the issue, Karra stressed that his party had led the effort from the grassroots. “This is not about statements or press conferences — it’s about a sustained struggle,” he said.
When asked if Congress planned to challenge the 2019 revocation of special status in court, Karra clarified that the Supreme Court had already upheld the move. “Given the legal reality, our achievable demand is the restoration of statehood. That’s where our fight is focused,” he said.
He also criticized the current administrative setup, where an unelected lieutenant governor appointed by New Delhi governs the region. “This dual-power system is undemocratic and creates constant confusion. Until statehood is restored, this instability will continue,” Karra said.
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