<p>New Delhi: Congress on Sunday said it will with full force raise the demand for restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir during Parliament's Monsoon Session starting July 21, saying this "farce" cannot go on any longer.</p><p>Days after Leaders of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue, General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal referred to the detention of its leaders in Jammu and Kashmir who had announced a protest on statehood issue.</p>.Monsoon Session: Pahalgam, Bihar SIR among issues to be raised by I.N.D.I.A. bloc .<p>"Did PM Modi lie on the floor of Parliament about granting statehood for Jammu and Kashmir? If not, why has J&K Police arrested JKPCC President Tariq Hameed Karra-ji and other Congress leaders? Why did they seal the PCC Office in Srinagar yesterday (Saturday) and stop our party workers from protesting peacefully for statehood?" he said.</p><p>"In the upcoming Parliament session, the I.N.D.I.A. alliance will be demanding that full statehood be restored in J&K immediately. This farce cannot go on any longer," he added.</p><p>Congress General Secretary and Jammu and Kashmir in-charge Syed Naseer Hussain said the arrest of Karra and others as well as sealing of the party office would not "silence us". He said, "our resolve is stronger than ever. We will continue our fight for restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. We will continue our fight till the people of Jammu and Kashmir reclaim what is rightfully theirs. Justice will prevail."</p><p>He said I.N.D.I.A. parties would raise the issue with "full force" in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.</p><p>On July 16, Kharge and Rahul wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to bring a Bill to restore statehood of Jammu and Kashmir in the Monsoon Session of Parliament, saying the “consistent demand” of people is “both legitimate and firmly grounded” in their constitutional and democratic rights.</p><p>In an interview to PTI, Omar made a forceful plea for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir without further delay, and indicated that all avenues, including legal options, were being explored by the National Conference in this regard. He also said that he did not favour a "hybrid system" of government under which law and order would continue to be with the Centre even after statehood is restored.</p><p>At a meeting of 24 I.N.D.I.A. bloc leaders on Saturday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah referred to the remarks of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha claiming responsibility for the security lapse that led to the Pahalgam attack and said the parties should now step up the demand for statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, as security issues were highlighted to demote it to a union territory.</p><p>Leaders felt that they should raise the issue of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir while discussing the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent developments.</p>
<p>New Delhi: Congress on Sunday said it will with full force raise the demand for restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir during Parliament's Monsoon Session starting July 21, saying this "farce" cannot go on any longer.</p><p>Days after Leaders of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue, General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal referred to the detention of its leaders in Jammu and Kashmir who had announced a protest on statehood issue.</p>.Monsoon Session: Pahalgam, Bihar SIR among issues to be raised by I.N.D.I.A. bloc .<p>"Did PM Modi lie on the floor of Parliament about granting statehood for Jammu and Kashmir? If not, why has J&K Police arrested JKPCC President Tariq Hameed Karra-ji and other Congress leaders? Why did they seal the PCC Office in Srinagar yesterday (Saturday) and stop our party workers from protesting peacefully for statehood?" he said.</p><p>"In the upcoming Parliament session, the I.N.D.I.A. alliance will be demanding that full statehood be restored in J&K immediately. This farce cannot go on any longer," he added.</p><p>Congress General Secretary and Jammu and Kashmir in-charge Syed Naseer Hussain said the arrest of Karra and others as well as sealing of the party office would not "silence us". He said, "our resolve is stronger than ever. We will continue our fight for restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. We will continue our fight till the people of Jammu and Kashmir reclaim what is rightfully theirs. Justice will prevail."</p><p>He said I.N.D.I.A. parties would raise the issue with "full force" in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.</p><p>On July 16, Kharge and Rahul wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to bring a Bill to restore statehood of Jammu and Kashmir in the Monsoon Session of Parliament, saying the “consistent demand” of people is “both legitimate and firmly grounded” in their constitutional and democratic rights.</p><p>In an interview to PTI, Omar made a forceful plea for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir without further delay, and indicated that all avenues, including legal options, were being explored by the National Conference in this regard. He also said that he did not favour a "hybrid system" of government under which law and order would continue to be with the Centre even after statehood is restored.</p><p>At a meeting of 24 I.N.D.I.A. bloc leaders on Saturday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah referred to the remarks of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha claiming responsibility for the security lapse that led to the Pahalgam attack and said the parties should now step up the demand for statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, as security issues were highlighted to demote it to a union territory.</p><p>Leaders felt that they should raise the issue of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir while discussing the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent developments.</p>
