NC to protest at Jantar Mantar on Day 1 of Monsoon Session for J&K statehood
Synopsis
Omar Abdullah is taking the J&K statehood fight from Srinagar's Assembly to Delhi's Jantar Mantar. The NC's decision to protest on Day 1 of the monsoon session — taken at a secrecy-shrouded meeting inside Dachigam National Park — marks a sharp escalation, and a test of whether the INDIA bloc will rally behind the demand.
Key Takeaways
National Conference legislators, led by CM Omar Abdullah , will protest in Delhi on Day 1 of Parliament's monsoon session .
The protest is planned for Jantar Mantar or another venue, demanding restoration of J&K statehood and constitutional guarantees.
The decision was taken at a daylong meeting on 3 June at Dachigam National Park , with the venue kept secret till the last minute.
CPI(M) MLA Yusuf Tarigami and five independent MLAs attended; Congress , an outside supporter with six MLAs, was not invited.
Discussions also covered drug abuse, alcohol, and development in the Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley regions.
The ruling National Conference (NC) in Jammu and Kashmir, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on Wednesday, 3 June resolved to stage a protest in New Delhi on the opening day of Parliament's monsoon session, pressing for the restoration of statehood and other constitutional guarantees to the Union Territory. The decision was taken at a daylong, closely guarded legislators' meeting held at the Dachigam National Park on the outskirts of Srinagar.
Key Developments
NC ministers, MPs, MLAs, and ruling allies boarded buses on the high-security Gupkar Road in the morning, with the venue kept under wraps until the last minute. The party deliberately withheld the location from the media, with the convoy's destination remaining a matter of speculation till arrival.
The protest, according to the party, will be held at Jantar Mantar or another venue to be finalised closer to the date.
What the Party Said
NC chief spokesperson and MLA Tanvir Sadiq told reporters that the discussions were cordial and that the Chief Minister had heard out legislators patiently. “It has been unanimously decided that the NC legislature party members will hold a protest in Delhi in Jantar Mantar area or some other place decided by us on the first day of Parliament's monsoon session,” Sadiq said.
He added: “It was decided that the time has arrived when we must lodge our protest for the restoration of statehood and other constitutional guarantees to J&K. Our party stands with the people of J&K, and we will demand our right.”
Issues Beyond Statehood
Sadiq said the meeting also covered drug abuse, alcohol consumption, developmental concerns in the Pir Panjal region and the Chenab Valley, and other governance matters. “There were threadbare discussions on these issues and the Chief Minister listened to the legislators very patiently,” he said.
Who Was in the Room
CPI(M) legislator Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami and five independent MLAs backing the Omar Abdullah-led government attended the meeting. The Congress, which supports the NC government from outside with six MLAs in the Assembly, was not invited — a notable absence given the alliance's pre-poll arithmetic.
Why It Matters
Statehood for J&K has been the NC's central political plank since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories. While the Centre has repeatedly indicated that statehood will be restored at an “appropriate time,” no timeline has been committed. The monsoon session protest signals the NC's intent to escalate the demand from Assembly resolutions to street-level pressure in the national capital.
The next move will hinge on whether other Opposition parties, including the Congress and INDIA bloc allies, join the Jantar Mantar protest — a test of both the NC's coalition reach and the staying power of the statehood issue.
Point of View
A no-Congress guest list, and a Jantar Mantar plan timed to the monsoon session. This is less about persuading the Centre and more about reclaiming political ownership of the statehood demand inside the Valley, where the party's credibility hinges on visible pushback. The exclusion of Congress, despite its outside support, hints at coalition strain that will matter more once the protest needs INDIA bloc numbers in Delhi. Without that broader buy-in, a single-day Jantar Mantar sit-in risks being symbolism, not leverage.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the National Conference protesting in Delhi?
The NC is protesting to demand restoration of statehood and other constitutional guarantees to Jammu and Kashmir, which became a Union Territory after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. The protest will be held on the first day of Parliament's monsoon session.
Where will the NC protest be held?
The protest is planned at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, or at another venue to be finalised by the party closer to the date. The decision was announced by NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq after a legislators' meeting in Srinagar.
Why was the venue of the NC meeting kept secret?
The party did not announce the meeting venue in advance, and buses carrying the Chief Minister and legislators left Gupkar Road without disclosing the destination. The meeting was eventually held at Dachigam National Park on the outskirts of Srinagar.
Was the Congress part of the NC meeting?
No, the Congress was not invited to the meeting despite supporting the Omar Abdullah-led government from outside with its six MLAs. CPI(M) MLA Yusuf Tarigami and five independent MLAs backing the government did attend.
What other issues were discussed at the meeting?
Beyond statehood, the legislators discussed drug abuse, alcohol consumption, and developmental concerns in the Pir Panjal region and Chenab Valley. Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said the Chief Minister heard the legislators patiently on each issue.
