Jammu: All Party United Front (APUF), a Jammu-based amalgam of over a dozen opposition political and social parties, staged a protest demonstration outside the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh near Tawi bridge in Jammu city on Saturday against granting more powers to LG and demanded restoration of statehood ahead of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
The protesters included senior members of the Congress, National Conference, PDP, CPI (M) and Shiv Sena (UBT) carrying placards and chanting slogans in support of restoration of statehood, land and job rights and holding of the assembly elections.
“The main opposition parties, minus BJP and its cohorts, have come together to convey a strong message that we want immediate restoration of the full statehood before holding of the assembly elections along with democratic rights to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Pradesh Congress Committee senior vice-president Ravinder Sharma said.
He also accused the BJP-led government of “shamelessly downgrading” the historic Dogra state and snatching the “status, dignity, identity and rights” of people.
“The BJP is on record having promised restoration of statehood to the people of J&K in Parliament and the Supreme Court. It failed to keep its promise and also hold assembly polls in the last six years. Now when the Supreme Court set the deadline for assembly elections draws nearer, it has given more powers to the Lt Governor to continue its proxy rule,” Sharma said.
National Conference provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta also slammed the BJP for delaying the assembly elections and expressed hope that the Election Commission which is visiting J&K next week will ensure the holding of much awaited polls.
“National Conference is going to form the next government and will revoke all the black laws implemented by the BJP,” he said, demanding restoration of statehood before holding of the assembly elections.
J&K Shiv Sena (UBT) president Manish Sahni said a spark has been lit with this peaceful protest and it will turn into a flame in the coming days if the BJP delays restoration of statehood.
“We will intensify this struggle across Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.