With the National Conference (NC) holding a key party meeting on Wednesday, the party announced that its legislators will stage a protest in New Delhi on the first day of the monsoon session, demanding the restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees for Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah posted a picture on X with party legislators, saying they were “off for an off-site” to spend the day reviewing the last 19 months of governance. “The good, the not so good & everything in between,” he wrote.
By evening, the NC formally declared that its legislative party would protest in Delhi. “We will see whether it will be done at Jantar Mantar,” said Tanvir Sadiq, NC MLA, adding that the party’s demand centres on statehood and constitutional safeguards. On Wednesday morning, Abdullah took his legislators to Dachigam National Park on the outskirts of Srinagar, after they had assembled at his Gupkar residence.
NC legislator Bashir Ahmad Veeri posted a picture on X, noting they had crossed Srinagar’s Shalimar en route to an “unknown destination.”
Reacting to the post, PDP leader Iltija Mufti quipped: “In Kashmir MLAs are more endangered than Hanguls! Must designate a special separate wildlife park for them.”
Abdullah later clarified on X that the meeting location had not been shifted at the last moment. “It was always my intention to conduct this meeting off-site and all arrangements have been made, days in advance, at the location originally chosen by me,” he said.
People’s Conference chief Sajad Lone mocked the gathering, writing: “This is the bombshell threatened by CM sahib. Tourist to the core. A trip to the scenic and beautiful Dachigam. It is actually symbolic for today’s congregation. It is secluded, isolated, entry is restricted. That actually sums up the state of the present government. Aloof, secluded, isolated and entry restricted.”
The NC meeting comes amid growing discontent over delays in restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. Even within the ruling party, legislators have voiced concern about the dual nature of governance in the Union Territory.
“A day-long meeting of JKNC legislators, MPs, and alliance partners was held today at Dachigam under the chairmanship of CM Omar Abdullah. Detailed deliberations were held on restoration of statehood and special status of J&K, unemployment, drug abuse, alcohol issue, reservation policy, regularisation of daily wagers and casual employees, governance, development and other issues. The meeting unanimously resolved that JKNC will hold a protest in New Delhi on the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session to demand the immediate restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees," reads a statement issued by National Conference.
