Statehood demand: Congress announces August 5 as Black day in J&K

JAMMU: Demanding restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Congress will observe Aug 5 as Black Day. J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra on Monday said this will also mark “six years since the state was downgraded.”Peaceful sit-in protests will be held in Jammu’s Maharaja Hari Singh statue park besides all district headquarters, Karra said at a press conference.He also announced day-long hunger strikes from Aug 9 to 20, beginning on the Quit India Day and concluding on the birth anniversary of former PM Rajiv Gandhi. Hunger strikes will not be held on Aug 15 and 16, he said.On Aug 5, 2019, Centre had abrogated Article 370 which granted special status to J&K and bifurcated the erstwhile state into two UTs.