What happened
The People's Democratic Party (PDP) has said it may not join the National Conference protest at Jantar Mantar on Jammu and Kashmir statehood unless the agenda is widened. The PDP wants the mobilisation to also demand restoration of Article 370, release of political prisoners, and lifting of the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami.
Mehbooba Mufti wrote to Farooq Abdullah and argued that a statehood-only protest would effectively legitimise the changes made on 5 August 2019 and push the Article 370 question to the background.
Background and earlier position
The constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir has remained a central political issue since the 2019 changes. The present dispute links statehood politics with the broader questions of constitutional restoration, detainee releases, and restrictions on political-religious organisation.
Mehbooba Mufti said both the PDP and the National Conference had promised Article 370 restoration in their 2024 manifestos. The PDP has asked the National Conference to convene an all-party meeting with regional parties and civil society to frame a common roadmap on political and constitutional questions.
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