Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra said on Sunday that the party would decide whether to join the National Conference’s proposed protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi after consultations with the Congress central leadership.
The National Conference has invited 52 prominent leaders across national and regional political and religious outfits to their protest for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20.
Speaking to Kashmir Outlook, Karra welcomed the National Conference’s decision to raise the demand for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, saying the Congress had been spearheading the campaign for more than a year.
“It is a matter of happiness for us. What we started one-and-a-half years ago, they have finally reached that stage,” Karra said.
He said the Congress, NC’s ally in government in Jammu and Kashmir, had organised protests across all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, held chain hunger strikes, staged demonstrations in Srinagar, Jammu and Delhi, and mobilised hundreds of supporters for a protest at Jantar Mantar in July 2025.
Karra said the Congress had invited all political parties to join its earlier campaign, including through public appeals and written invitations, but many did not participate at the time.
“As far as joining this protest is concerned, we will first consult our central leadership. There are certain internal matters that need discussion before any decision is taken,” he said.
The senior Congress leader said the protest would have benefited from wider consultations among political parties, adding that a broader consensus could have strengthened the campaign.
He said the Congress’ demand extended beyond restoration of statehood and included constitutional safeguards for Jammu and Kashmir.
“When we began this movement, our slogan was that statehood should be restored along with constitutional guarantees available to other states in one form or another,” Karra said. “This is a struggle for all 14 million people of Jammu and Kashmir, irrespective of religion or caste.”
Karra said the Congress had maintained the same position since October 16, 2024, when the Union Territory government was being formed.
He reiterated that the party had decided not to join the Jammu and Kashmir government until full statehood, along with constitutional guarantees, was restored.
“It is a matter of principle. Unless complete statehood is granted along with constitutional guarantees, we do not wish to be part of the government,” he said, rejecting suggestions that the party had been denied cabinet positions.
On National Conference president Omar Abdullah’s allegation that BJP had attempted to lure NC legislators with money, Karra said neither he nor members of the Congress had been approached.
“Nothing of that sort has happened,” he said.
