Jammu: Congress IIOJK chapter president Tariq Hameed Karra has criticized Indian Minister Kiran Rijiju’s recent comments on statehood as emblematic of New Delhi’s reluctance to fulfill its commitments regarding the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, Karra made these remarks during a Congress workers’ convention at Doongi in the Rajouri district. He emphasized that the Congress party would only participate in the IIOJK government if the rights taken from the people were reinstated.

The convention saw participation from Congress MLA from Rajouri Iftkhar Ahmed, Congress District President Shabir Ahmed Khan, and other senior party leaders, alongside a substantial number of attendees.

Karra remarked that Rijiju did not provide a timeline for restoring statehood, interpreting this as a signal that New Delhi is not prepared to consider granting statehood to Jammu and Kashmir in the immediate future.

He accused the BJP-led Indian government of reneging on its repeated promises concerning the swift restoration of statehood, which had been made in the Indian parliament, before the Supreme Court, and at various public gatherings by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Currently on a campaign in the Jammu region, the Congress IIOJK chief is advocating for the party’s mission “Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq,” which seeks the early restoration of statehood. He urged the public to be prepared to fight for reclaiming their identity, dignity, status, and rights “as a state.”