Jammu: In a significant display of unity, local opposition parties convened in Kathua for a sit-in protest demanding the restoration of the special status and statehood for Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

According to Kashmir Media Service, the demonstration, organized under the banner of All Parties United Morcha, called for a collective effort among Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and tribal communities to reverse the amendments made post-August 5, 2019. These changes, the protesters claim, have stripped the residents of IIOJK of their rights to land, properties, and employment.

The protesters, equipped with placards that read “Restore statehood of Jammu and Kashmir with Special Status,” issued a stark warning to India’s Modi government to reverse the 2019 decisions or risk facing severe consequences akin to those experienced in Bangladesh. The gathering also voiced strong opposition to the policies of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, criticizing his administration’s handling of local rights.

This protest follows a critical all-party meeting held at the Congress Office in Jammu, where multiple political and social organizations, including Congress, NC, Shiv Sena (UBT), PDP, AAP, S Akali Dal, CPI ML, AIPA, HRS, and DBMC, resolved to jointly contest the revocation of Article 370 and the expanded powers granted to the Lieutenant Governor.