Srinagar, July 18: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has said her party will participate in the proposed Jantar Mantar protest in New Delhi only if the movement extends beyond the demand for the restoration of statehood and also includes the restoration of Article 370, the release of political prisoners, and the protection of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional rights.

In a letter to National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba said that limiting the campaign to statehood alone would not address the larger political issues facing Jammu and Kashmir. She argued that the constitutional changes introduced on August 5, 2019, fundamentally altered the region’s relationship with the Union, making statehood only one part of a broader political solution.

She stressed that the restoration of Article 370 and the release of political prisoners should remain central to any united political movement. Mehbooba also urged Dr. Abdullah to convene an all-party meeting involving regional political parties, civil society groups, trade bodies, and other stakeholders to prepare a common roadmap for restoring constitutional and democratic rights in Jammu and Kashmir.

Referring to developments since 2019, Mehbooba alleged that arbitrary detentions, dismissal of government employees, restrictions on the media, closure of educational institutions, and environmental degradation had increased public discontent. She said that a movement focused only on restoring statehood would overlook these broader concerns.

Reiterating her party’s position, Mehbooba said the PDP would join the proposed Jantar Mantar protest only if its agenda includes the restoration of Article 370, the release of political prisoners, and the wider constitutional and political aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.