Hundreds protest in Delhi demanding statehood for Indian Kashmir

Police prevented protesters from staging their demonstration, according to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who shared videos and images of the event on X. Abdullah stated that the protest marked the beginning of their struggle for statehood, rights, and dignity.

In August 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government revoked Jammu and Kashmir's partial autonomy, removed its statehood, and divided it into two federally-controlled territories: Kashmir and Ladakh. The government has indicated that statehood will be restored at an "appropriate time" but has not set a specific deadline.

Abdullah and his party, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, are urging for the earliest possible restoration of statehood, aligning with the government's stated promise. Leaders from Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, however, suggested the protest was a tactic to distract from perceived governance failures by Abdullah's administration.

Kashmir is a disputed territory claimed in full by both India and Pakistan, though each administers a portion. India has accused Pakistan of supporting separatists in Indian Kashmir, allegations that Islamabad denies.