The Congress party has announced that it will observe August 5 as a "Black Day" in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), marking the sixth anniversary of the revocation of Article 370 and demanding the restoration of full statehood. This decision signals an intensification of the party's movement for statehood, with a series of protests and outreach programs planned.
J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra announced the decision, stating that August 5 marks "six years since the state was downgraded". He criticized the BJP-led central government for allegedly glorifying the "disempowerment of the J&K people". The party plans to hold peaceful protests and sit-in demonstrations (dharnas) across Jammu, Srinagar, and all district headquarters on August 5 to mark the occasion. These demonstrations will specifically take place at the Maharaja Hari Singh Statue Park and other district headquarters to emphasize the demand for the re-establishment of full statehood.
In addition to the August 5 protests, the Congress party has announced a 12-day hunger strike from August 9 to August 20, 2025, to further support their demand for statehood. The hunger strike will commence on August 9, which is also Quit India Day, with a day-long strike at both Jammu and Srinagar headquarters. The relay hunger strike will continue until August 20, the birth anniversary of the late Rajiv Gandhi, but will be temporarily halted on August 15 and 16 for Independence Day celebrations.
The Congress party is also planning a massive outreach campaign starting August 1 to garner public support for the restoration of statehood. This campaign will target traders, transporters, and those in the unorganized sectors to rally support for their cause.
These actions are part of a broader movement called "Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq" (Our State, Our Right), which the JKPCC claims has already gained significant momentum. The party believes that previous events, such as the Srinagar Chalo, Jammu Chalo, and Delhi Chalo programs, have successfully brought the issue of statehood into the national political spotlight. Congress intends to intensify its protests through various democratic means, including street corner discussions and mass contact programs, to put pressure on the BJP government.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed hope that statehood will be restored during the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament. He has stated that his government will raise the issue if there is no progress during this period. However, the Congress party has seemingly sidelined its ally, the National Conference (NC), by unilaterally pushing for statehood, increasing pressure on the ruling party. The Congress party, which contested the 2024 J&K Assembly elections in alliance with NC and won six seats, has so far refused to join the government, maintaining it would only do so once statehood is restored.
Other political figures have also weighed in on the issue. National Conference President Farooq Abdullah has stated that restoring statehood is essential for respecting the Constitution and that the recent terror attack in Pahalgam could have been prevented if a local government had been in charge of security. He also pointed out that promises made during the abrogation of Article 370, such as the eradication of terrorism, have not been fulfilled.
