NC invites Mirwaiz, Kashmir's Grand Mufti and all political parties to join Delhi protest

Srinagar, Jul 9 (PTI) In a first, the ruling National Conference on Thursday said it has invited Kashmir's chief preacher, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, to join its upcoming protest in New Delhi demanding the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. The National Conference said it has invited all political parties, including the BJP, to take part in the protest. The Mirwaiz, who formerly led the moderate faction of the now-defunct Hurriyat Conference, has been extended the invitation in his capacity as the head of the Muthaida Majlis-e-Ulema, an umbrella body representing several prominent religious organisations. Broadening its outreach, the National Conference has also invited the Grand Mufti of Kashmir, Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, to participate in the demonstration. "Apart from the political parties, the National Conference has invited Mirwaiz sahab, who is chief of the Muthaida Majlis-e-Ulema, and Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, the Grand Mufti of Kashmir," said NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq. Sadiq said the National Conference has invited all political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, including the BJP, to take part in the protest. Most of the invitations have been sent out, while others are being processed. "We have invited the president of Jammu and Kashmir BJP, as well as the heads of other political parties, including Mehbooba Mufti of the Peoples Democratic Party and Altaf Bukhari of the Apni Party," he said. The move marks a significant shift in the region's political landscape, signalling an effort by the ruling party to build a broader coalition -- bridging mainstream political entities and influential religious leadership -- to press the Centre on the statehood issue. The National Conference has announced that it would hold a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament on July 20, to remind the Centre of its promise to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. PTI SSB RUK RUK