File photo: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah
SRINAGAR: A day after the death of his uncle Dr Mustafa Kamal, J&K CM Omar Abdullah Wednesday said his party will proceed with its planned Delhi protest for the restoration of statehood.“There will be no change in our July 20 programme. We have not received permission for the protest at Jantar Mantar so far, but we will leave for Delhi on July 19. If permission is granted, we will hold the protest at Jantar Mantar. If not, we will reach Delhi, sit together and decide our next course of action,” Omar said amid mourning.Kamal, a doctor, was additional general secretary of National Conference, a party founded by his father Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. He had also served as a minister in the cabinet of his elder brother Farooq Abdullah.Last week, Farooq, in his capacity as the NC chief, had sent letters to 52 political figures, including Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, inviting them for July 20 protest. In his letter, Farooq described abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of J&K state into two union territories on August 5, 2019, as “deeply flawed decision” and called the protest of July 20 as “cause of federalism.”NC has also written to President Droupadi Murmu, seeking an appointment to submit a memorandum on their demand.Congress has supported Omar’s demand but said it’s not enough. “Congress has always believed in statehood plus. We mean land rights, job rights and constitutional rights of the people on land,” Congress MP Pawan Khera has said.PDP has not clarified its stand on the invitation of Omar to its president Mehbooba Mufti, though it thanked Congress for “articulating the real issues flowing out of the disempowerment of J&K.” “NC could at least have spelt out as much without fear of displeasing BJP,” spokesman Naeem Akhtar said.
