Congress to support J&K government from outside, demands restoration of statehood

The Congress has decided to support the National Conference-led government in the Union Territory from outside and not join the Council of Ministers, party's state unit chief Tariq Hameed Karra told India Today TV.

Karra said the Congress will not take any ministerial berths in the Cabinet for the moment as it is "unhappy" that the Centre has not restored Jammu and Kashmir's statehood.

Karra said, "Our intention is not to haggle for power



but pressurise the central government to restore full statehood. We will support the Omar Abdullah government from outside and not be a part of the government."

"We want democracy shoplifting be restored in its true essence and full statehood should be given," he added.

Karra's statement came after National Conference leader Omar Abdullah took oath as the Chief Minister of the Union Territory, first after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.