‘Ready to join statehood protest in Delhi’
Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Jan 2: Member of Parliament for Srinagar, Agha Ruhullah, today emphasized that the fight for the restoration of Article 370 and the dignity it embodies for the people of Jammu and Kashmir must take precedence over settling for the “hollow promise of mere statehood.”
Ruhullah made these comments on the social media platform X, shortly after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah held his first press conference at SKICC Srinagar since taking office as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in October last year. During his address, Omar termed the restoration of statehood as the key issue and biggest challenge for his Government.
However, Ruhullah stressed the importance of the restoration of art 370. He said, “since 2019, my political stance has been crystal clear. At one of my earliest public gatherings in Budgam and subsequently at various events across Kashmir, as well as in interviews after the abrogation, I told my people that our fight must be for the restoration of Article 370 and the dignity it represents,” he said.
The MP also expressed his readiness to join a protest against the push for statehood, urging others prioritizing statehood to organize it. “I have been informed about the desire to protest for statehood in Delhi. I am ready to participate in such a protest and invite those prioritizing statehood to organize it. I will also work to gather support from over 100 MPs,” he stated.
He further noted, “I believe there is no better time than January to organize this protest, as it marks the adoption of India’s Constitution-the very document that enshrined our special status.”
Ruhullah referred to the abrogation of Article 370 as an act of humiliation, adding, “The abrogation of Article 370 was a deliberate and calculated act of humiliation, a deep wound inflicted upon us. The subsequent demotion to a Union Territory was a further attempt to impose upon us the indignity of that abrogation.”
He described the move as a political statement, claiming it signified that their sacrifices were meaningless and that their future was now to be dictated by others. “In light of this betrayal, this deliberate attempt to break our spirit and subjugate our will, I cannot, in good conscience, sidestep the fight for our special status and settle for the hollow promise of mere statehood. Shouldn’t our voices first rise for our honor, our identity, and the autonomy we have long been denied?” he questioned.
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