Srinagar : Jammu and Kashmir education minister Sakina Itoo on Wednesday said the National Conference would continue its peaceful political campaign seeking the restoration of the erstwhile state’s special status and statehood, saying the party would raise the issue wherever possible.
Itoo was speaking to reporters in Srinagar during an NC protest. She said the party’s position on the status and rights of Jammu and Kashmir had remained unchanged since August 2019, when the Centre ended the region’s special constitutional status and reorganised it into Union territories.
“Every day is a day of protest for us,” Itoo said, adding that the NC would continue to raise the demand through democratic and peaceful means.
She argued that the issue was larger than the National Conference and reflected what she described as the aspirations of people across Jammu and Kashmir.
The minister also alleged that authorities had placed restrictions in several areas to limit participation in the protest. She claimed that checkpoints had been established at different locations and alleged that BJP workers were permitted to move through Lal Chowk while NC supporters faced restrictions.
Itoo criticised what she described as pressure and harassment of protesters, saying the party would not abandon its campaign.
She reiterated the NC’s demand for the restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A, besides the return of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Itoo, restoring these provisions and statehood was necessary to address what she termed the “high-handedness” being faced by people in the region.
