Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 23: The Congress activists led by senior party leaders today took out a march to press for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and lodge their protest against the economic slowdown in the country.
The protest march, first of its kind in the city post abrogation of Article 370 provisions and bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories, started from the Congress headquarters at Shaheedi Chowk, Jammu and culminated with the submission of a memorandum addressed to President, Ram Nath Kovind at Deputy Commissioner’s office on Wazarat Road.
“This march is part of the nationwide protests organised by the All India Congress Committee against the failure of the BJP-led Government to pull the country out of the economic crisis and highlight the plight of farmers, the condition of the youth, growing unemployment and price hike of essential commodities,” Pradesh Congress president G A Mir told reporters before the protest march.
Mir, who led the protest along with senior party colleagues, said, “We have sought permission to submit the memorandum to Lt Governor G C Murmu but as you are aware about the situation of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir, we were not allowed and therefore, we are handing this memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, for the President.
“The memorandum highlights the murder of democracy and desecration of the Constitution, economic crisis, plight of farmers, business community and transporters, joblessness and continuous price hike of essential commodities,” he said.
Seeking the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Mir said the congressmen are on the roads to convey the voice of the people to the President as the “undemocratic and unconstitutional” steps taken by the Centre left them “deeply hurt”.
“People are scared to raise their voice for their rights. This is the situation which has been thrust on them after this beautiful state was dismantled,” he said amid chants in support of the restoration of statehood.
The protesters, who were carrying placards and banners, marched in a procession towards the office of the Deputy Commissioner and later dispersed peacefully.
Some of the women activists of the party were seen wearing garlands made of vegetables like onions, lemons etc to protest the price hike of essential commodities.
Prominent among them who accompanied included- Tara Chand, Raman Bhalla, Mula Ram, Kanta Bhan, R S Chib, Ravinder Sharma, Parkash Sharma, Balwan Singh, Rajnish Sharma, Manmohan Singh, Shah Nawaz Choudhary, Vikram Malhotra, Hari Singh Chib, Ashok Sharma, Shiv Dev Singh, Dr Manohar Lal, Shabir Ahmed Khan, KC Bhagat, Naresh Gupta, Subhash Gupta Balbir Singh, Ashok Dogra, Indu Pawar, Uday Chib, Raqeek Khan, M K Bhardwaj and others.
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