Congress to Launch ‘Save the Constitution’ Campaign, Demands J&K Statehood Restoration from April 22

Indian National Congress will on April 22 launch a countrywide "Save the Constitution" campaign with an eye to restoring the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir as well as all democratic rights. Announcing the drive after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge made a decision, it was to repudiate the so-called "attack on federalism and values of the constitution" as read by the BJP in its subsequent actions, specifically revoking Article 370 and converting J&K into a Union Territory after 2019's act.

Party seniors Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi will head rallies in Srinagar and elsewhere, urging the return of J&K's elected Assembly and statehood at the earliest. The Congress will also raise the issue of the Centre's record delay in conducting Assembly polls after the legislative assembly was dissolved in 2018 and project issues such as unemployment, land rights, and reported security excesses in the state.

The campaign will attempt to surf public fury at postponed elections and economic stagnation, blaming the BJP policies as "disempowering locals" and cancelling the promise of equality in the constitution.

 The campaign will have grassroots mobilisation, legal campaigning, and political coalitions with civil society associations to build pressure on the government before the Supreme Court's upcoming ruling on petitions against the removal of Article 370.

The BJP has called the campaign "political theatrics," stating that its government decisions have ushered in peace and prosperity to J&K. The Congress, however, claims denial of statehood and democratic rights contradicts constitutional principles. 

The campaign is also occurring in tandem with the mounting international criticism against India's policy on Kashmir in recent EU Parliament discussions, making it symbolic before the 2024 general elections.