Jammu: The All Party United Front (APUF), a coalition of opposition parties and social groups in Jammu, has announced a major protest scheduled for August 3 at Maharaja Hari Singh Park. The demonstration aims to pressure the Indian government to restore full statehood to the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and to repeal recent amendments that have increased the powers of the lieutenant governor under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the decision to organize the protest was made during a joint meeting of various groups, which also led to the formation of an 11-member core committee led by former MP Sheikh Abdul Rehman. The amendments in question, enacted by the Indian Home Ministry, extend greater administrative control to the lieutenant governor, particularly concerning policing and the appointment of all-India services officers.

The leaders of the APUF, including Manish Sahni, the IIOJK chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), have expressed their discontent with the changes, accusing the BJP-led government of altering democratic values and governance in the region. The protest is seen as a critical step in advocating for the rights and autonomy of the people of IIOJK.