J&K Cong netas detained as police block rally seeking statehood

JAMMU: J&K Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra and senior functionaries GA Mir, Lal Singh, Raman Bhalla, and Ravinder Sharma were detained Sunday as police blocked the party’s planned “statehood march” in Jammu.

They were taken to the police lines and released later.Congress has ramped up its statehood campaign under the banner “Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq”, holding protests and rallies across the region.A heavy police contingent halted the protest as Congress functionaries and workers began marching toward Raj Bhawan to submit a memorandum to LG Manoj Sinha demanding the restoration of J&K’s statehood, which was revoked following the abrogation of Article 370 in Aug 2019 and bifurcation of the region into Union territories, including Ladakh.Karra said the party would proceed with its ‘Delhi Challo’ programme Monday to gherao Parliament on the first day of the monsoon session, despite police crackdowns in Jammu and Srinagar. “These harsh measures will only strengthen our resolve,” he said, adding that MPs from INDIA bloc support the demand for full statehood.Former JKPCC chief and ex-minister Mir said: “We’re not asking for anything special — this is a commitment made by the PM himself.”