Congress protests at Jantar Mantar for immediate restoration of Statehood to J&K

Amid the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Congress on Tuesday (July 22, 2025) held a demonstration in New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar area to press for the restoration of Statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, and the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule.

The issue would be raised in both Houses of Parliament during the Monsoon Session, the party stated.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi extended their full support to the 500 J&K Congress leaders and workers who travelled by buses to the national capital.

“When the Lieutenant Governor himself admits to grave security lapses in the Pahalgam terror attack, it vindicates our stand. Unelected, unaccountable administrators cannot replace a democratically elected government. Jammu & Kashmir deserves its dignity, its Assembly, and its voice,” Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal said, addressing the meeting at Jantar Mantar.

Mr. Kharge and Mr. Gandhi later met the leaders and workers from J&K at Indira Bhavan, the party’s headquarters.

“The people of Jammu & Kashmir deserve full Statehood. It is their Constitutional right. We have written to the PM demanding the same. Modi Govt has a consistent policy of betrayal for Jammu & Kashmir,” Mr. Kharge said in a post on social media platform X.

“The Pahalgam terror attack is a grim reminder of intelligence failure. We stand strongly with the people of J&K, demanding adequate compensation and protection for them, especially those families who have lost their loved ones in cross-border shelling. They are martyrs,” Mr. Kharge said.

The Congress is fully committed to protect the rights of the people of J&K, Mr. Gandhi said in a Facebook post.