Under the slogan “Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq”, the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) will restart its relay hunger strike to press the Centre to reinstate full statehood in the union territory.
By: Javid Amin | 09 October 2025
The demand for full statehood in Jammu & Kashmir has re-entered public debate with renewed intensity. On October 18, the Jammu & Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) will resume a chain hunger strike under the banner “Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq” (“Our State, Our Right”), targeting districts that were unable to participate earlier. The protest had earlier been paused owing to severe natural calamities in the Chenab Valley and surrounding regions, which caused widespread disruption and loss of life.
As the campaign revives, it pits political symbolism against real expectations: Will renewed protests push central or local leadership to act? Or will this be another chapter in the decades-long tussle over J&K’s constitutional status? This article digs into the roots, implications, challenges, and likely trajectories of this renewed agitation.
Context & Background: From State to Union Territory
To understand why the demand for statehood is so potent, we must revisit the constitutional, political, and legal history of Jammu & Kashmir in recent years.
The Reorganisation Act, 2019 & Its Aftermath
In August 2019, the Indian Parliament passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which restructured the erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir into two Union Territories: Jammu & Kashmir (with a legislature) and Ladakh (without a legislature).
This move was coupled with the abrogation (or effective nullification) of Article 370, the special constitutional status accorded to J&K, via presidential orders and other legislative maneuvers. Many perceived it as a sweeping centralization of authority over a region that previously had significant autonomy in its internal governance, laws, and civil administration.
In the years since, debates, legal challenges, political mobilization, and civic demands have centered on whether J&K ought to be restored to full statehood—with all the powers, rights, and democratic responsibilities that accompany a state in India.
In December 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Reorganisation Act, but also stressed that statehood should be restored “as soon as possible” in line with legal and constitutional obligations.
However, the court did not prescribe a hard timeline. That leaves political, legislative, and executive decisions as the arenas where statehood may or may not be restored.
Political Promises, Expectations & Questions
Since 2019, the demand for statehood has not been dormant. Political parties across J&K—National Conference, PDP, Congress, and others—have raised the demand at different times. The Congress, in particular, has made restoration of statehood a recurring plank in its campaign rhetoric.
In recent months:
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JKPCC President Tariq Hameed Karra has reiterated that statehood isn’t a mere slogan but a constitutional and indigenous demand for people of the region.
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In national and regional dialogues, leaders like Omar Abdullah have written to multiple political parties urging them to support legislation for restoring full statehood.
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The Congress leadership (Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge) has written to the Prime Minister calling the 2019 downgrade “without precedent” and asking for swift reinstatement of full statehood.
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The Congress party declared August 5 (the anniversary of the reorganisation move) as a “Black Day” to protest the downgrading of J&K’s status.
Yet, political commitment has often collided with institutional inertia and central reluctance. Critics argue that restoration of statehood is not just a political act, but involves major administrative, fiscal, legal, and security considerations—a process that cannot simply be reversed at will.
It is in this context that the Congress’s decision to resume a chain hunger strike takes on layered meanings: protest, pressure, political messaging, and a signal of unresolved tensions.
The Protest Plan: Revival of “Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq”
What is a Chain Fast (Relay Hunger Strike)?
In practical terms, a chain fast or relay hunger strike means that in multiple locations or districts, party workers, leaders, or supporters take turns fasting (abstaining from food) for specified durations, sustaining a continuous protest without exhausting any single individual. This format spreads participation, avoids health risk concentration, and maintains prolonged public visibility.
The Congress campaign in J&K earlier this year adopted this style to cover as many districts as possible, aiming to underline that the demand for statehood is widespread and grassroots, not limited to urban or elite circles.
Why Resume from October 18?
According to the announcement by JKPCC, the hunger strike will resume on October 18 covering remaining districts that could not participate earlier due to distractions, calamities, or infrastructural disruption.
The intervening pause was necessitated by natural disasters—notably, flooding, landslides, and property destruction in Chenab Valley and other parts of Jammu & Kashmir. These events commanded immediate attention and relief efforts.
With disaster relief operations stabilizing, Congress leaders say it is now appropriate to resume political pressure. Tariq Karra has instructed district presidents and party workers to gear up for the fast.
Themes & Slogans: “Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq”
The slogan “Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq” (Our State, Our Right) encapsulates the dual thrust of this campaign:
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Restoration of political dignity and local agency: “Hamari Riyasat” evokes the former status and identity of J&K as a state with its own governance, institutions, and voice.
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Legitimacy of demand: “Hamara Haq” frames statehood not as favor or concession but as a right long withheld or curtailed.
By combining emotive appeal with constitutional argument, the Congress aims to moralize its cause—not merely as a political tactic but as an assertion of justice and accountability.
Stakes & Challenges: What the Protest Must Navigate
Protests of this kind are not straightforward. They carry internal and external risks, both in perception and in execution.
Political Stakes: Messaging, Alliances & Credibility
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Credibility vs Symbolism
The fast must not be dismissed as merely symbolic. If it is perceived as performance without possibility of real impact, the Congress risks fatigue or cynicism among supporters. -
Positioning vis-à-vis Other Parties
In J&K’s party ecosystem, National Conference, PDP, and newer regional forces each stake different positions on statehood and autonomy. Congress must clarify how its campaign compares or contrasts—whether alliance partners or rivals see it as complementary or competitive. -
Coalition Relations & Government Alignment
Reports suggest that at times, communications over protest plans have not synchronized with coalition partners. For example, Omar Abdullah (CM of J&K) claimed not to have been informed about Congress’s statehood protest in certain forums.
Such gaps could generate friction in three-way dynamics—Centre, UT government, and party apparatus. -
Electoral Calculus
As elections approach (local or legislative), the hunger strike may be a campaign lever. The Congress hopes to galvanize voters, distinguish itself, and extract political credit or pressure over other parties. -
Central Government Response
The ultimate aim is to provoke legislative or executive action from the Union Government. But the Centre’s priorities, perceptions of protest efficacy, and risk calculations will deeply influence how seriously this campaign is engaged with.
Operational & Logistical Challenges
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District-Level Coordination
The protest covers multiple districts, many of them remote or underdeveloped. Ensuring continuity, supply of water, medical oversight, communication, and participant safety will be demanding. -
Health & Safety
Hunger strikes, especially sustained ones, can cause health complications—weakness, dehydration, gastrointestinal issues. Protests must ensure medical facilities, monitoring, and contingency plans. -
Public Perception & Public Fatigue
Sustaining public interest and media attention across several districts is taxing. The longer the fast continues without visible outcomes, the greater the risk of public indifference or opposing narratives hijacking the discourse. -
Administrative Pushback & Law Enforcement
In past protests, Congress workers have faced resistance, blockades, detentions, or curbs by local authorities.
Ensuring permissibility, engaging with police, and managing friction will be part of the campaign calculus. -
Disaster-Context Sensitivity
Because the earlier pause was due to natural catastrophes, any criticism or narrative accusing the protest of insensitivity to local distress must be anticipated and mitigated.
Public Sentiment & Reactions
Understanding how various segments of society perceive this renewed fast helps gauge its momentum and potential pitfalls.
Supportive Voices
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Congress Cadre & Grassroots: Local party workers, youth wings, and district activists are likely to embrace the fast as a visible, committed show of resolve.
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Sympathetic Civil Society & Intellectuals: Some civil rights groups, academicians, and activists may see it as a legitimate civic expression for constitutional rights and regional autonomy.
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Disenchanted or Restive Segments: Those who feel marginalized or distant from governance may welcome a renewed focus on structural issues rather than daily grievance politics.
Criticism & Skeptics
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Timing Critique
Some may argue that launching a hunger strike in October—amid administrative flux, natural recovery, or governance demands—may distract from pressing issues like flood relief, infrastructure restoration, employment, public services, or local governance. -
Questioning Effectiveness
Given that multiple political formations have promised or claimed statehood restoration, skeptics may question whether another fast will succeed where others have not. -
Party Motivations
Detractors may brand it as electioneering, vote-seeking posturing, or theatrical politics rather than genuine civic intervention. -
Opposition Narrative
Rival parties might argue that development, governance, resource allocation, and administrative competence matter more than constitutional status. They may try to shift the debate to “what works now” rather than “what status should be.”
Media & Social Messaging
The protest offers Congress a rich platform for media amplification, social media campaigns, visuals of fasting leaders, district-level solidarity reports, and cross-regional comparisons. But it also invites counter-narratives, fact checks, and media scrutiny. How well the Congress crafts messaging, controls narrative, and reacts to criticism will matter as much as the fast itself.
Potential Outcomes & Scenarios
What might happen from October 18 onward? Below are plausible trajectories and their implications.
Scenario A: Tangible Policy Response
If the central government or Parliament signals its willingness to discuss or fast-track legislation toward restoring statehood (or stage-wise devolution), Congress would claim partial victory. The fast becomes leverage. This might lead to:
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A parliamentary bill or amendment proposed.
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Committees or negotiations initiated between the U.T. government and Centre.
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Public assurances or roadmaps from ministers or the Prime Minister’s Office.
In such a scenario, Congress can claim that mass protest forced policy shift, retain credit among voters, and manage expectations through staging demands.
Scenario B: Partial or Symbolic Concessions
The Centre might respond with limited gestures—such as greater administrative autonomy, incremental transfers of functions, promises of future action, or committee formation—but stop short of full statehood restoration. This would be a balancing act: acknowledging demands without overcommitting.
In that case, Congress would need to decide whether to continue the fast, accept partial wallets, or use such concessions as campaign fodder.
Scenario C: Stalemate or No Response
If the government ignores the fast, declines to act or engage substantively, the protest risks losing steam. Public interest might wane, media coverage may shift, and internal morale may erode. However, even in this scenario, Congress can argue that it stood up, raised attention, and held a political moral high ground.
Scenario D: Backlash, Repression, or Disruption
If administrative or law enforcement action curtails fasts, detains leaders, or imposes restrictions, the protest could shift into a confrontation. That might generate sympathy, escalate visibility, or provoke legal battles. But it also poses risks of violence, health incidents, or polarization.
Each scenario demands strategic decision points by Congress: when to push, pause, conclude, or transition into new forms of protest or advocacy.
Voices & Quotes Worth Noting
Below are some of the statements and themes emerging in media reports:
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Tariq Hameed Karra (JKPCC President):
“We will not rest until the Centre fulfils its promise and restores the dignity and honour of J-K.”
“Statehood is not a slogan — it’s our constitutional right and our indigenous movement.” -
Local Reports: The hunger strike earlier this year began on August 9, covering multiple districts under the same banner.
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Administrative Relations: At times, Congress protest plans have reportedly lacked communication with coalition partners. For instance, Omar Abdullah claimed he had no information about some Congress-led statehood protests within alliance forums.
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Detentions & Obstructions: In July 2025, Congress leaders—including Karra and other senior functionaries—were detained when attempting to lead a “statehood march” in Jammu.
Such statements and incidents reflect both the promise and the pitfalls of the campaign landscape in J&K politics.
Strategic Suggestions (From a Communications / Political Lens)
To maximize the impact and safety of the fast, Congress might consider these strategic tweaks:
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Phased Launch with Spotlight Districts
Begin with a few key districts where public support or visibility is strong, then cascade to more remote ones. This allows testing logistics and narrative strength before scaling. -
Medical & Support Infrastructure
Have doctors, emergency kits, hydration stations, and backup protocols in every participating district. Publicly emphasizing health care mitigates criticism. -
Narrative Framing & Media Pitches
Emphasize the constitutional and rights-based foundation of the demand. Deploy human stories: fasting families, local leaders, district-level hardships under UT status, voices from marginalized groups. -
Alliances with Civil Society & Institutions
Involve student groups, legal societies, local NGOs, academic voices. A broad front can lend the fast legitimacy beyond party lines. -
Digital Amplification
Real-time updates, visuals, social media tags, live sessions with leaders or families, mapping protest footprints across districts—such activism must live online as much as offline. -
Legal Backstops
Anticipate challenges from law enforcement or administrative directives. Prepare legal counsel, anticipatory petitions, rights-based responses to curfews or detentions. -
Exit Strategy & Next Moves
The fast can’t go on forever. Congress should preemptively outline benchmarks: What would make it end? What would be acceptable interim outcome? What next steps if demands aren’t met? -
Feedback Loops & Ground Reporting
Constant feedback from district-level units to central leadership will ensure responsiveness to on-ground needs, morale issues, or logistical breakdowns.
Bottom-Line
The revival of the chain hunger strike from October 18—under the resonant slogan “Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq”—is more than a political gesture. It signals a revived push by Congress to make the restoration of full statehood to Jammu & Kashmir a frontline issue. The strategy is bold: undergird the protest with constitutional legitimacy, grassroots participation, sustained visibility, and pressure on the Centre.
Yet, success is far from guaranteed. The campaign must navigate logistical complexity, public perception, opposition narratives, alliance dynamics, and the central government’s appetite. Its trajectory over coming days, weeks, and months will be a test not just of party resolve, but a barometer of how constitutional promises can compete against political inertia.
As October 18 approaches, all eyes in J&K—and beyond—will be watching whether the fast becomes a force for change or a footnote in the long struggle for full rights, recognition, and regional dignity.
