DMK, Congress leaders protest in Delhi over J-K issue


New Delhi / Chennai: Leaders from various political parties including Congress’ Gulam Nabi Azad, Mukul Wasnik and Karti Chidambaram and CPI’s D Raja took part in a protest organised by the DMK in New Delhi today over the Kashmir issue.

However, VCK leader Thirumavalavan said due to unavoidable reasons he could not take part in the protest organised by DMK at Delhi, demanding the release of leaders in Jammu and Kashmir. He said a protest will be organised by the party on 30 August in Chennai against the abrogation of Article 370.

DMK on Monday announced a day-long protest on 22 August at the Jantar Mantar against the Centre’s ‘isolation’ of Jammu and Kashmir and invited other parties to join it.

Announcing the protest, DMK President M K Stalin had said that parties that ‘believe in democracy’ would participate in the protest to send a signal to the BJP that implementation of its Kashmir policies was not according to democratic principles.

The party demanded immediate release of the political leaders under detention in Jammu and Kashmir. Stalin condemned the abrogation of Article 370 and said the detention of family members of political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir is unacceptable and unconscionable.

“The Central government has isolated Kashmir from India by imposing curfew, using repressive forces and implementing prohibitory orders. By cutting channels of communication, the government has unnecessarily created a hostile environment,” the DMK statement read.