SRINAGAR: Ahead of its proposed programme in New Delhi over the demand for statehood, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, NC president Farooq Abdullah, and several legislators left for New Delhi on Saturday to participate in the event.
Omar Abdullah and his father left Srinagar in the afternoon and reached the national capital to take part in the proposed protest programmes over the demand for statehood.
Sources in the National Conference said that they were awaiting permission to hold a sit-in over the demand but expressed hope of receiving it.
They added that the protest could take place either at Jantar Mantar-the designated venue for protests-or at Ramlila Maidan, which hosts the annual Ramlila as well as major political rallies.
The NC had proposed to stage a protest on July 20, the first day of the Monsoon session of Parliament, to press for the restoration of statehood.
It had sent invitations to 52 political as well as religious personalities to participate in the protest programme. While the BJP declined the invitation and proposed to hold a Secretariat gherao on the same day, Kashmir-based smaller political parties like the PDP, PC, and others decided against participating on the grounds that the demands for the restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A have been ignored.
Top BJP leadership, including Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, have also reached Kashmir to mobilize public support for its protest programme. (KNO)
