Srinagar/Kargil: The Jammu and Kashmir Congress leader on Saturday sat a hunger strike here to press for the restoration of the Union territory’s statehood.
The strike was launched by Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Karra at the party’s head office at M A Road here.
Karra and other senior leaders of the party, including AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir and party MLAs, joined the hunger strike.
A similar hunger strike will be observed in Jammu on Sunday.
The hunger strike is part of the party’s campaign ‘hamari riyasat, hamara haq’ to press for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, which was downgraded and bifurcated into two Union territories – J-K and Ladakh – on August 5, 2019, by the Centre.
The Centre also abrogated Articles 370 and 35A that day.
Speaking to reporters, Karra said the party has launched a “struggle to awaken the blind, deaf and dumb government in Delhi”.
“We selected this day as it is the day when the ‘Quit India Movement’ was launched. From August 9 to 21, the party will observe six hunger strikes across various districts of J-K,” he said.
The JKPCC president said the peaceful hunger strike has been launched for the wishes and aspirations of the 1.40 crore citizens of J-K.
He said that as the Parliament session is going on, the party would wait for any development related to the restoration of J-K’s statehood.
“If there is no development, then on August 21 (when the session ends), a new programme will be given,” he added.
Meanwhile, a three-day hunger strike began in Kargil on Saturday morning in support of four demands, including statehood and extension of Sixth Schedule to the Union Territory of Ladakh.
The hunger strike sponsored by Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Leh Apex Body (LAB) at Hussani Park in the town comes amid displeasure among the representatives of the two bodies over the Centre’s delay in holding the next round of talks with them.
KDA and LAB have been jointly spearheading the agitation over the past five years and have held several rounds of talks with the high-powered committee (HPC) of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
“Together, we can build a future where Ladakh governs Ladakh. Three-day hunger strike (in support of) statehood for Ladakh, (its) inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the constitution, separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil regions and establishment of a public service commission (PSC),” reads a banner jointly put up by the KDA and LAB at the venue of the hunger strike.
The core committee of the two bodies will discuss and chalkout the next course of action as the entire Ladakh is ready for the agitation which will continue if the government failed to respond, he added.
Another prominent leader of KDA, Sajjad Kargili, alleged that the government had failed to keep its promise on the next round of talks.
“So, once again, we are protesting peacefully and democratically. We hope that this message reaches the government. This colonial treatment should end with the people of Ladakh,” he said.
Kargili said democracy should be restored in Ladakh as soon as possible along with the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which the government had promised.
