SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the National Conference’s proposed “Delhi Chalo” programme on July 20 will go ahead as scheduled, asserting that while the venue or mode of the protest may change, the party’s decision to travel to New Delhi remains unchanged.
Speaking to reporters, Omar said the National Conference was determined to take its demand for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood to the national capital.
“The venue and the manner may change, but the plan to go to Delhi will not. We will not carry out this programme secretly in some corner. We will go to Delhi and raise our voice there,” he said.
When asked whether the announcement of other political programmes ahead of the proposed protest amounted to sabotage or an attempt to divert attention, the Chief Minister declined to comment.
“I will not get into whether it is sabotage or a diversion,” he said.
Reiterating the party’s resolve, Omar said the National Conference would proceed with its programme regardless of the circumstances.
“If we wanted to hold the programme secretly, we could have done it in the courtyard of our own home. We will go to Delhi and one way or the other, raise our voice there. After that, we will decide the future course of action,” he said.
The National Conference has scheduled a “Delhi Chalo” sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20, coinciding with the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, to press for the immediate restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
