The Congress party has planned a new phase of protests, outreach programmes and hunger strikes to demand the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The move comes just before the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Tariq Hameed Karra said the party will observe August 5 as a “Black Day”, with peaceful sit-in protests across the region.
“A big protest will be held at Maharaja Hari Singh Park in Jammu and in all district headquarters,” Karra said. “We will keep reminding the BJP government of its promise to return statehood. Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq (Our state, our right) is not just a slogan, it is about our identity and dignity.”
Party has adopted some children on the directions of LOP Rahul Gandhi who are victim of Pak shelling in Poonch
— J&K Congress (@INCJammuKashmir) July 28, 2025
Karra announces hunger strike for statehood
Outreach campaign from 1st August
“HAMARI RIYASAT HAMARA HAQ; CHAI PE CHARCHA”
Sit on Dharna; Black day on Aug 5 pic.twitter.com/ICOx9VwMsC
From August 1 to 5, Congress will hold a public outreach campaign called ‘Chauraha Pe Charcha’, where party members will meet civil society groups, trade unions, transport workers, and the public in different towns to build pressure on the Centre.
From August 9, the party will begin day-long chain hunger strikes in Srinagar and Jammu. These will continue until August 20, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
The hunger strikes will pause on August 15 and 16, given the Independence Day celebrations.
The first phase of the Congress campaign—‘Srinagar Chalo’, ‘Jammu Chalo’ and ‘Delhi Chalo’— energised the Congress workers and set the stage to intensify the campaign, paving the way for a more intense phase with protests and direct contact with the public to press their demand.
The Congress has also called for a three-day special session of the J&K Assembly to pass a law demanding the immediate restoration of statehood. The party is trying to take the lead on this issue, especially since the BJP government has not given any timeline for restoring statehood, and the NC has been criticised for not pushing the demand strongly.
The Congress campaign also comes at a time when Parliament is in its monsoon session. The party hopes to build pressure during this period and gain traction.
The party is feeling rejuvenated after several senior leaders who had left the party and joined Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) returned.
With this campaign, Congress is trying to get ahead of both its ally, the NC, and the BJP. The NC is hoping for a positive announcement in the monsoon session. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said that if statehood is not restored, the party may change its strategy. The NC is also mulling holding a special Assembly session to press their demand.
Meanwhile, the BJP has held internal meetings to counter both the Congress and NC campaigns on the statehood issue.
In another development, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has adopted 22 children who lost their parents in Pakistani shelling in Poonch district. During his visit to Poonch, Gandhi had met families affected by shelling during the four-day India-Pakistan military clash. He also visited a local school and promised help for students who had lost their parents.
