J&K Statehood demand sparks faceoff as NC MLAs protest, People’s Conference scoffs

New Delhi: The ruling National Conference legislators held a protest outside the assembly complex in Jammu on Tuesday demanding restoration of statehood and ceasing of violence against Kashmiris in other parts of the country.

Opposition parties termed the protest as “a drama and gimmick” asking the ruling party to talk about statehood along with Article 370 and 35 (A) formally on the floor of the assembly, for it to become the part of the official record. Speaker of the assembly Abdul Rahim Rather, also refused to entertain amendments to lieutenant governor’s address concerning Article 370, 35 (A) and statehood proposed by Sajad Lone of the opposition People’s Conference.

“We are sitting on a dharna in support of the demand for restoration of statehood,” Satish Sharma, a minister in the NC government, told reporters outside the assembly complex. The members of the NC were holding placards reading, “Restore statehood and Constitutional guarantees” and “Stop harassing Kashmiris outside J&K”. “Statehood was promised to us and now is the time to restore it,” said Tanvir Sadiq of NC. Sadiq also raised the issue of harassment of Kashmiris outside J&K and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to direct states to ensure their protection.


“Speaker sahib has rejected my amendments regarding Article 370, 35 (A) and statehood, saying I should be convincing him personally on this…NC’s protest outside the assembly is a drama. They should support our amendments on the floor of the house, which would be part of formal archives and official records,” Lone told reporters. He said that NC’s protest outside the assembly is merely a ‘gimmick.’

People’s Democratic Party MLA from Pulwama Wahid Para had also criticized the government for not including statehood in the LG’s address. He also sought an adjournment motion for urgent discussion over “harassment and brutal attacks” against Kashmiri vendors, students, and patients in states like UP, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, which was not allowed.

“When Kashmiri Muslims are being hunted and humiliated, hiding behind procedure to avoid debate is moral failure. The Omar Abdullah government has failed those who gave it a mandate to protect dignity, ensure safety, and defend identity under attack,” wrote Mohit Bhan of PDP.

J&K CM Omar Abdullah also spoke with the reporters outside the J&K Assembly expressing concerns over continued attacks against Kashmiris. He said that these attacks are happening in states like Himachal which is ruled by the opposition Congress.

Meanwhile, the issue of establishment of National Law University triggered an uproar in the assembly on Tuesday as BJP has supported the protestors in Jammu, whose demand is to establish the university in Jammu.

The J&K CM during a by-election campaign in Budgam constituency of Kashmir in November, 2025 had promised that NLU will be set up in the constituency if his party candidate wins from there. Since then the BJP has supported the protestors in Jammu demanding establishment of a university in Jammu. This has triggered the Jammu versus Kashmir debate in the assembly and outside as well.