New Delhi: The National Conference is set to proceed with its planned protest in the national capital on Monday to demand the restoration of statehood, despite uncertainty over the venue and the absence of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is back in Jammu to oversee an unfolding flood crisis.
The protest was strategically timed to coincide with the commencement of the Parliament’s Monsoon Session. While the National Conference (NC) initially sought permission to hold the demonstration at Jantar Mantar, Delhi Police had not granted clearance as of late Sunday night.
Compounding the logistical issues, the Cockroach Janata Party has also announced plans to march to Parliament from Jantar Mantar on Monday amid its ongoing agitation over alleged exam irregularities. In response to the dual political developments, Delhi Police heavily fortified the area with multi-layered barricades and imposed Section 144, which prohibits unlawful assemblies of four or more people.
According to the NC sources, Delhi Police offered an alternative protest site at Ramlila Maidan, but the option was rejected by party leaders.
The NC leadership, headed by the party president Farooq Abdullah, met on Sunday evening to review their strategy and consider alternative plans, though senior officials remained tight-lipped about their final decision.
While party MLAs and ministers have already arrived in Delhi for the demonstration, the leadership reiterated that the protest will move forward regardless of the venue hurdles.
In the meantime, the chief minister, who was scheduled to lead the protest in New Delhi, abruptly changed his plans and travelled to Jammu, following deaths and severe losses of property caused by devastating floods in the Rajouri and Poonch districts.
Upon reaching Jammu, he chaired a high-level, two-hour emergency meeting to review the flood situation. The briefing included deputy commissioners and senior administrative officials, many of whom joined through video conferencing from the affected zones.
During the review, Abdullah issued strict directives to the administration to deploy all necessary resources to prevent further loss of life and to fast-track immediate relief measures for residents whose lives have been upended by the deluge.
Party sources said the chief minister had decided to stay overnight in Jammu to personally monitor the rescue and relief operations. He is expected to assess the situation on Monday morning before taking a final call on whether to fly to Delhi to join the ongoing party agitation.
PTI