JKPCC Chief Tariq Hameed Karra on Thursday said that the Congress party will intensify its campaign demanding the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, announcing that August 5—the day Article 370 was abrogated—will be observed as a ‘Black Day’.
Speaking to reporters after a ‘Delhi Chalo’ programme aimed at pressing for statehood restoration, Karra as per news agency KINS said, “August 5 is the blackest day in the history of Jammu and Kashmir. We will observe it as Black Day, and a hunger strike will also be held on August 9.”
He stressed that the Congress is not seeking a symbolic or partial restoration of statehood, but complete statehood on par with states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh.
“We are not begging; we are demanding our right which was snatched illegally and unilaterally,” Karra said.
Under the ‘Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq’ campaign, the party will hold a series of programmes from August 1 to 21 across the region to mobilise public support and raise awareness.
Reacting to the National Conference’s claim that it was not consulted about the protest programme, Karra clarified that Congress supports the government from outside and has no cabinet compulsions.
“This is not just the Congress’ struggle—it is the struggle of 1.40 crore people of Jammu and Kashmir. We won’t force anyone to join us, but we will not back away from our responsibilities,” he asserted.(KINS)
