SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Tariq Karra has claimed that those who initially celebrated the abrogation of Article 370 now recognise that Jammu has borne the brunt of the decision.
Speaking to the media in Poonch, Karra reiterated the demand for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s pre-2019 status, asserting that the fight for statehood remains crucial. He noted that the Supreme Court’s verdict on Article 370 had fallen short of public expectations, but stressed that the Congress party remains committed to pursuing statehood through both legal and political channels.
“The demand for statehood is not merely a political opportunity; it is a battle for the region’s lost identity,” Karra said.
The Congress has launched the “Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq” (Our State, Our Right) movement, with Karra vowing to take the campaign to every district in Jammu and Kashmir to reclaim the region’s rightful status. “This is about the status and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, which were taken away. The central government made promises, and we are here to remind them of those commitments,” he added.
Karra also highlighted Jammu and Kashmir’s historical legacy as a unified entity under the Dogra rulers before its accession to India. “Our sub-regional identity has always been distinct. The BJP has misled people by claiming that J&K was only liberated after they came to power in 2014,” he said.
Additionally, he accused the BJP of misrepresenting the realities of Jammu and Kashmir’s integration. “The Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb [a syncretic culture of Hindu-Muslim harmony] that they attempted to disrupt is now being understood across the country,” he added.
The Congress, Karra asserted, will continue its legal and political efforts to restore statehood, emphasising that their demand falls within constitutional limits and has already been assured by the central government. (KNO)
